They're asking everyone to do something pretty simple and in the end, it may save a life: donate blood.
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Maverick Simmons was born Labor Day, September 3.
He is one of a set of triplets, and the only one who has survived their premature births. He is still in a battle for his life.
He needs a constant transfusion of his rare blood type, AB negative. He needs the platelets from AB negative to survive, which means constant transfusions.
His parents are undergoing a heart-wrenching ordeal.
Jason Painter, Maverick's father, said, "Day by day we've learned with a premature child at his age, there's a lot of obstacles every day."
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Mother Shane Simmons said, "We just learned how important it is for everyone to give blood. You don't know how important it is until you need it. "
Christiana Hospital, where Maverick remains, in intensive care has a full supply of AB negative.
But his parents, both firefighters, have launched a hero's blood drive to get steady donations of AB negative to the Blood Bank of Delmarva. Platelets have only a five-day shelf life.
Tony Prado of the Blood Bank of Delmarva said, "This young man needs platelets and as a coping mechanism, they want to do something positive. They want to emphasize the constant need for platelets."
"AB negative is needed in this particular circumstance, because type-specific blood products are used for neonatal transfusion, so it's important because only less than 1% of the population is ab-negative," added Kristen Frederick of Blood Bank of Delmarva.
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As these parents maintain a round the clock vigil at their son's bedside, they are determined to get the word out as far as possible about the value of regular blood donations, of all types.
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