Blood Drive Set for Southington Toddler with Rare Blood Disorder

*Editor’s note: This story was first published Oct. 7. Here it is again, in case you missed it.

Contributed photo: Daniela Ciriello.

Like most three-year-olds, Daniela Ciriello loves the movie “Frozen” but unlike most children her age, Daniela needs blood transfusions every three weeks because she suffers from beta thalasemmia.

To help raise awareness about the constant need for blood, Daniela’s family will host an American Red Cross blood drive on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Pleasant St. in Southington.

Daniela was conceived as a twin, but lost her twin sister in utero at 20 weeks. Once born, she was a fussy, colicky baby. When she turned one, she was not eating or drinking, only weighed 14 pounds and was diagnosed with failure to thrive. Her parents took her to many doctors and hospitals to find out what might be wrong. Eventually they found a doctor that requested many diagnostic tests.

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“That same night, we got a late call from the on-call doctor requesting Daniela come immediately to the emergency room,” said Daniela’s father, Daniel Ciriello. “Once there, we learned her hemoglobin was 4.0. They do not know how she was even conscious, let alone alive.”

After further testing, Daniela was diagnosed with beta thalassemia, also known as Cooley’s anemia, a rare genetic blood disorder where the body does not generate enough healthy red blood cells on its own. The only treatment is regular blood transfusions. Daniela required seven transfusions during the ER visit and has received transfusions every three weeks since then.

“We have become staunch supporters of the Red Cross and blood donation program,” said Ciriello. “We’ve held more than a dozen successful blood drives in her honor, and have enrolled dozens of first time donors. We continue to raise awareness of her condition and the need for blood.”

To make an appointment to donate blood, eligible donors are encouraged to download the new Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores or text BLOODAPP to 90999 to receive a download link, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).