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For the Pittsburgh drive CLICK HERE!
First off - THANK YOU for you kindness and generosity!  

James has battled JMML leukemia, lung disease, graft-versus-host disease and Crohn's disease over the past 3 years... initially spending many months in the hospital as he fought for his life.

In honor of James, and to help other kids battling childhood leukemia and cancer, we are hosting our 3rd annual "Blood Drive for James."  To support Team James, please follow the two simple steps below and let's make a difference together!


Step 1 - Sign up for the vitalant Blood Drive for James.  

James has received over 100 blood and platelet transfusions during his ongoing battle and journey - and there are many others just like him.  Simply put, we need your blood!

Step 2 - Make an optional donation to Cal's Angels after signing up for the blood drive.

Cal's, a local non-profit, has been a lifeline to our family and many others stuck in the hospital for days / months / years battling leukemia and other cancers.


CHICAGO & suburbs ​
​DECEMBER 2nd -
december 19th


Sign up:

    For detailed location maps scroll to the bottom of this page.

    Subject to availability
    Note:  If you need assistance completing this form please call Vitalant directly at (847) 260-2579 and they will be happy to assist via phone as well.
Submit (Sign Me Up)!

Thank you to those that DONATED IN 2020!


James' Story...


​On August 7th 2018, our son James McCarthy was a seemingly healthy soon-to-be 2 year old.  James was experiencing what we thought was sinus infections over the last few months and we'd been to the doctor multiple times but never had an indication anything serious was wrong.  The recommendation was given to get a blood test just to see if anything abnormal came back.

Later that night we received a call from our doctor that James’ white blood cell count was abnormally high – around 32,000 when 5,000 to 10,000 is normal – and she recommended that we make an appointment at Lurie Children’s Hospital to have additional tests done. 

There, doctors delivered a bombshell diagnosing James with an extremely rare and serious blood cancer called juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML).  This only affects 25-50 children in the country each year and is one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of Leukemia you can get.  As you can imagine, our world was turned upside down in a matter of 48 hours.

​The next day James' vitals tanked and he was breathing as if he has just ran a marathon... his heart rate was over 200 beats per minute and he did not recognize me or his mom, Rita.  We knew something was very, very wrong.

James was put on a ventilator that night and spent the next month and half on that machine in the pediatric ICU fighting for his life.  During his time in the hospital James received more than 100 blood and platelet transfusions to keep him going.


Ultimately, James needed a bone marrow transplant in his battle against JMML.  Thankfully we were able to find a match (thank you Spencer, we are forever grateful) and complete James' transplant on December 6th, 2019.  James then spent another month and half in isolation at the hospital with many very serious battles fought during this time.  We almost lost him a few times during out initial stay and had some close calls during transplant as well.

​I'm thrilled to say that James is still with us today, but not out of the woods.  James is now in a battle against graft-versus-host disease, which is his body battling that new immune system given to him which saved his life.  James still takes 15+ medications today, including some chemo-like drugs, and although is very happy I would be hard pressed to say he is as healthy as we would have hoped by now.  GVHD has taken James' hair by attacking and (likely permanently) killing his hair follicles in the process and he is about 1/2 the size and weight he should be from side effects of all his medications.  
We know this may lead to some tough situations in life for James as he grows older, but given all he's already been faced with and beat we know he can take this head on as well.

We are very grateful to be where we are today and to enjoy his infectious smile and personality every day.  James didn't have a choice in what he's had to deal with over the last two years, but you do have a choice to help others in need like James.  

Without selfless strangers donating blood James would not have had a chance in this battle, and there are many others like him in need out there right now.  Getting poked with a needle isn't likely on any of our shortlists as a fun and enjoyable thing to do in your free time, but I would please ask and urge you to consider joining "Team James" by donating blood the week of December 2nd-December 19th (form above).  Even the worst of situations can be turned into a positive and we need you to make that happen... and best of all, it's free :-)




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locations:


Arlington Heights
25 W. Rand Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Chicago: Jefferson Park
5316 North Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60603

Chicago: Lincoln Park
1523 W. Fullerton
Chicago, IL 60614

Chicago: Loop
State of Illinois Building
​100 W. Randolph St.

Chicago, IL 60601  

Crystal Lake
5150 Northwest Highway
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Evanston
2436 Main Street
Evanston, IL 60202

Glenview
2510 Waukegan Road
Glenview, IL 60025

Gurnee
5250-1 Grand Avenue
Gurnee, IL 60031

Lake Bluff (Carriage Way Plaza)
223 Waukegan Road
Lake Bluff, IL 60044

Lansing
2 River Plaza, Ste. G
Lansing, IL 60438

Naperville
2764 Aurora Ave
Naperville, IL 60540

Norridge (Regency Shopping Center)
5050 N. Cumberland Ave
Norridge, IL 60706

Oak Lawn
9517 South Cicero Ave
Oak Lawn, IL 60453

Orland Park (Stoneridge Plaza)
11120 W 179th
Orland Park, IL 60467

Schaumburg
211 W. Golf
Schaumburg, IL 60195

Villa Park
100 E Roosevelt Rd Ste Suite 40-41
Villa Park, IL 60181

Westmont (Fairview & 63rd)
1133 Fairview Ave
Westmont 60559
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  • Home
  • Glow Walk
  • Journal
  • James' Story
  • Wall of Support
  • Donate To James' Care
    • Fundrazr Site
  • NBC Clips
  • Thank you...