A Seguin man needs the help of New Braunfels residents.
Scott Roessing, superintendent of The Koehler Company in Seguin, suffers from hairy cell leukemia, a rare blood cancer that causes the body to make too many white blood cells and reduces the number of red blood cells and platelets.
Because of chemotherapy treatments required for his condition, Roessing must receive regular blood transfusions.
The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center in New Braunfels is conducting a replacement blood drive for Roessing on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The drive will be in the New Braunfels Donor Room at The Marketplace, 651 N. Interstate 35 Suite 830.
Donors must present identification. Anyone 16 years of age weighing 120 pounds or 17 and up weighing 110 pounds is eligible to donate. Donors 16 years of age must have a parental consent form. Donors are recommended to eat and drink before and after donating.
A brief physical will be performed at the Donor Room before blood is taken. Carmen Davila, spokeswoman for South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, said the entire process took about an hour. Though some of the blood will be used to help Roessing, the drive is also intended to replenish the local blood supply.
“When someone is undergoing chemotherapy, they are using lots of blood,” Davila said. “The family thought of this as a way to help and a way to honor someone who is ill. Therefore another patient with a similar condition or other blood needs will have that blood available to them as well.”
Roessing started kidney dialysis Tuesday and is listed in critical but stable condition at St. Luke's Baptist Church Hospital in San Antonio.
His daughter Jessica helped arrange the blood drive. She said the family was grateful for the support they had received from the community.
“These people don't have to do what they're doing, and we're aware of that,” she said. “We just appreciate it so much. My dad is a great man who would do anything for anybody and it's nice to see so many others step forward and do so many amazing things for him.”
