Alice Heinz

When Alice Heinz was born, her parents knew she would face an uphill battle. Alice endured seizures as a baby, the first symptoms of Neurofibromatosis, a life-threatening disease that creates tumors in the brain. At the close of her kindergarten year, Alice’s doctors diagnosed her first brain tumor, and by the age of ten, she was being treated for her third.

Rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, while helping to destroy the tumors, rob Alice’s body of vital red blood cells and platelets, so regular blood transfusions are required to support her health.

“Blood products have saved our daughter’s life many times over,” says Alice’s mother, Susan, “Just as they help other people every day.”

Supported by her family’s devotion and affection, Alice enjoys learning her school subjects and loves to read. During the summer, she and her sister attend Camp U-KAN-DU, swimming during the day, sitting around campfires at night, playing games, and - Alice’s favorite - riding on donkeys. She is thankful for respites from sickness and pain and appreciates being able to play outside with her friends. Alice wants everyone to know that even though she can’t meet all of the donors who help in her continuing struggles, she would like to say a big thank you.