Spurred by own fight with sickle cell, Naperville North senior organizes blood drive

Spurred by his own fight with sickle cell disease, Naperville North High School senior Zavion Charles is hosting a community blood drive this weekend.

“Team Zavion Blood Drive” will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Naperville Safety Town, 1320 Aurora Ave.

Zavion, who partnered with blood donation organization Vitalant to organize the event, said the idea came to him last spring, after he was last hospitalized due to complications from his sickle cell disease.

The 17-year-old was hospitalized for 21 days.

“Towards the end … I thought maybe we should set up a blood drive because there are other people who need blood who aren’t as fortunate as me, who have pain crises more often than I do,” he said.

Sickle cell is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The abnormal hemoglobin inhibits red blood cells’ ability to move easily through vessels, causing blocked blood flow.

Pain, which can occur in any part of the body, is the most common complication of sickle cell disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other complications include infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.

Zavion’s mother, Renee Gonzales, said that while her son was in the hospital last year, the amount of support Zavion received made them realize there was an appetite for something like a blood drive in the community.

“They weren’t nurses, they weren’t doctors,” she said. “They couldn’t help in that way, but a lot of (people) delivered food and gift cards. Then we thought hey, how about just having them give blood? That’ll probably be the best gift they can actually give.

“That’s what sparked all of this.”

Gonzales said she is “truly, truly proud” of Zavion for bringing the idea to fruition.

“I’m really, really proud of him,” she said. “You know, he’s putting up the posters, letting his friends know and truly doing what it takes to have a successful blood drive.”

Going into Sunday, Zavion said he had one goal.

“I just hope a lot of people show up and donate.”

Appointments are encouraged for Zavion’s blood drive Sunday but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be made at vitalant.org using group code 10055561 or by calling 877-258-4825.

Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. IDs are required.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com