FirstService Corporation: Donating Life Saving Blood in Honor of a Special Child

FirstService employees donated blood in honor of six-year-old Ella

Employees from FirstService Corporation’s Toronto headquarters joined together in a month-long drive to donate blood in honor of a special little girl.  Ella was born with a serious heart defect called “Transposition of the Great Arteries.” In her first six years of life, Ella has endured more than many do in an entire lifetime, including nine heart surgeries, being placed on an artificial heart and lung machine for four days, and receiving well over 50 units of blood. Thanks to donors who have generously donated their own blood, Ella has celebrated birthdays, Christmases and will be starting Grade 1 in the fall.

From left, blood donors Bailey MacDonald, Christian Cutts, Antonio Sirianni, Andrew Hui and Roger Thompson

Honoring Ella

FirstService donated blood under “Team Ella” which was started by Ella’s parents as a way to give back to the organizations that have helped Ella. While their original goal was to collect 50 units of blood in Ella’s name to “put back into the system” what Ella had used, they have far surpassed this goal and continue to encourage blood donation.

As Ella’s mom says, no one ever expects that they, or someone the love, will need blood someday. But if you do, you absolutely better have it when you need it, where you need it, and the right type.

Thanks to the contributions of the FirstService team, Team Ella’s monthly blood donations increased by 50% for the month of July.

How You Can Help

The need for blood is great throughout North America, and we encourage you to consider donating through Canadian Blood Services or American Red Cross Blood Services.

If you wish to support Team Ella, please follow these steps:

  1. Visit https://blood.ca/en/ways-donate/donate-partner/becoming-partner/team-member-registration

  2. In the “Partner ID” box, type “TEAM368169”

  3. Put in the rest of your personal information as requested

  4. Click Submit

  5. To locate a donation center near you, please visit: https://myaccount.blood.ca/