Blood Drive Honors Girl Fighting Rare Illness In Point Pleasant Beach

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — A blood drive is set for Monday to honor a Point Pleasant Beach 5-year-old who is battling a rare autoimmune illness with blood transfusions.

Julianna Mistretta, 5, receives blood transfusions regularly as she battles Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, a rare autoimmune disease.

Since her diagnosis in July 2024, Julianna has had numerous doctor’s appointments and received many blood transfusions as part of her treatment, each one playing a crucial part in improving her quality of life, her family says.

"Julianna remains a joyful and resilient young girl despite her challenges, bravely fighting this autoimmune disease with strength and resilience," blood drive organizers said. "Her family is asking the community to come together and donate blood so that others in need can receive the same life-saving support that has been so vital to Julianna."

The blood drive is set for Monday, Sept. 16, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ocean Fire Company No. 1, 400 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant Beach.

It takes one hour to donate a pint of blood, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.

Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800-688-0900.

To make an appointment to donate blood, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit this nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.