An Abbotsford grandmother is urging people to donate blood in memory of her grandson, who died of leukemia last year at the age of four.
Leigh-Ann Owen has set up a “Partners for Life” account on the Canadian Blood Services website (blood.ca) for people who want to contribute blood in her memory of her grandson, Lukah Edward Gordon Owen, who would have turned five on their shared birthday of Feb. 7.
Lukah, whose initials spell LEGO, was diagnosed with acute myloid leukemia in January 2019. He received a successful bone marrow transplant in May of that year and made it past the 100-day mark free of the disease. But by September 2019, his family was told that the leukemia had returned and it was terminal. Lukah passed away in Abbotsford on March 8, 2020.
Owen describes her grandson as a happy child who loved to do things with his family and who loved to giggle and “be adventurous.”
She said her “heart has been broken” since Lukah’s death.
“I would do anything to touch his little hand or smell his freshly worn clothes again, read him a story or to hear him laugh while I blow bubbles for him,” she said.
Owen wants to commemorate his birthday by having people donate blood because blood donations helped Lukah during his treatment.
“Without people donating, we would not have been able to share the extra experiences we did with Lukah, and we wouldn’t have believed or had any hope. You gave us that and we will forever appreciate you beyond words,” she said.
Owen hopes to hold two bloods drives a year in Lukah’s memory.
Those who wish to donate blood in Lukah’s name can do so by registering under “LEGO LOVE” or ID number LEGO0093045.
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