Blood drive held for local girl seeking heart transplant
A blood drive was held in Desert Hot Springs today for 12-year-old Codi Pelton, a Coachella Valley girl needing a heart transplant due to a rare condition.
The drive ran from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mission Springs Water District, 66575 Second St. to raise funds for Codi, who suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped.
The blood drive was sponsored by the Mission Springs Water District where Codi’s mother has been an employee for 15 years.
“We’re a family together and we really wanted to come out and see what we could do to raise blood and bring hope for Codi,” said John Soulliere of MSWD.
Representatives for MSWD say they felt like today was a meaningful day to give back.
“9/11 is a day we remember lives lost and we also want to make it a day of lives saved and 9/11 is a day that inspires people to want to take action,” Soulliere said. “To remember all the lives that were lost on September 11 and remember all the lives we will be able to save with the blood we are getting today.”
Donors received a 9/11 Remembrance t-shirt, a free cholesterol screening and Gift of Life Donor Loyalty points that may be redeemed in the online donor store at www.LStream.org .
Codi’s mom said she is so grateful for all the support.
“It makes me feel gracious for the town I live in. I grew up here so everyone is supporting our daughter which means a lot to us,” Lisa Pelton, Codi’s mother. “Codi is a fighter and she’s a spunky kid, I’ll tell you that knowing her personally, and we’ve known for some time that we will behind her and the family all the way.”
Now, all there’s left for the family is to wait.
“We are waiting for that phone call. Once we get that call we will go down to Loma Linda, she will have her transplant which will be 8 to 12 hours long depending on how that works and then she will be able to come home and be a normal kid again,” Pelton said.
Pelton says Codi is still learning in the hospital. She has a teacher who comes every day. Her favorite subject is science and she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.
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