On September 5, eight-year-old Maverick Ford Painter and his family had the opportunity to meet one of the Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) donors who saved his life in September 2018. A premature baby born at just 25 weeks, Maverick required multiple procedures and eight blood transfusions as a newborn. He was the only triplet to survive. His family has hosted the “In Honor of Maverick Blood Drive” in Hacks Point, MD annually since his birth.
This year, Maverick and his family were introduced to Megan Palmeri, who donated blood that Maverick received in the NICU. As the mother of a medically complex child, Megan is a frequent blood donor who has a deep personal understanding of the impact of blood donation. Her son, Luca, relies on weekly IgG infusions made from human plasma to stay healthy. Her family knows firsthand that behind every blood product is a stranger who made the simple decision to give.
“For years, Megan wondered if any of her donations had ever become what she lovingly called ‘baby blood,’” says Joanna Arat, Director of Donor Recruitment at BBD. “Finding out that one of her donations not only did, but stayed local and helped Maverick survive, is almost impossible to put into words. Getting the chance to meet Maverick and his family brings that hope full circle and puts a face, a name, and a beautiful little life to something Megan has believed in for years: one donation can truly change someone’s entire world.”
Megan and BBD staff members gifted Maverick with several Minecraft toys, his latest obsession. Maverick’s parents Jason Painter and Shane Simmons thanked Megan for saving their son’s life.
In a brief ceremony at the blood drive, Maverick’s mother Shane thanked their family, friends, neighbors and members of the community in Earleville, Cecil County, Maryland for their love and support over the past eight years. She noted that when Maverick’s siblings, fellow triplets Vivian and Maddux passed away, there was no time to mourn because Maverick presented them with the biggest battle they ever had endured in their lives.
“Today, we celebrate eight years,” Shane said. “We would not be able to do so without the eight units of blood Maverick received during his NICU journey…. We took to the news, social media, and anybody who would listen, begging them to give blood. And guess what? They did.
“When presented with the opportunity to finally meet Maverick’s donors, I was once again flooded with emotions,” Shane added. “What would I say when I met the people who saved our son? And, then I realized, there are no words. Most people never meet the person who did what technology will never replace, blood donations. We are blessed. We are grateful.”
This year’s drive yielded 74 blood donations. Donors included Megan, her 16-year-old daughter Ashlin, and Maverick’s parents and grandmother.
Watch the YouTube video below to learn more about Maverick’s story:
