SPOKANE, Wash. — Friends and family gathered at Vitalant Blood Donation Center for an annual blood drive honoring fallen Marine Jake Hess.
Hess served as a Marine in 2014 while deployed in Afghanistan. Although Jake never returned home, his legacy lives on in the Spokane community.
His family hosts annual winter blood drives in his honor because he was a consistent blood donor.
“It was something that was important to him. And, you know, when someone passes, you’re just kinda trying to find those things that make any sense at all,” said Keirsten Lyons, Jake’s mother.
The blood drive had 48 appointments scheduled. Each year, volunteers average collecting 35 units of blood, which can help roughly 100 people in need of blood in the region.
Community members who attended spoke highly of Jake.
“Jake was an awesome individual. Just wish that I could’ve met him,” said Mary, a blood drive attendee.
“For his age, what he accomplished is amazing. Just amazing,” said Ramona, another attendee.
Crystal Osha attended the blood drive. Years ago, she was diagnosed with leukemia and had only a 10 percent chance of survival. Jake was a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant, and saved her life. Months later, he was deployed to Afghanistan.
“He’s a part of my life forever. Like, I feel him inside of me, and I feel his drive. He’s just always with me,” Osha said.
During the winter months blood donations tend to go down.
“Donations go way down in the winter time, so to be able to bring people in and help the community with blood donations feels really good,” Lyons said.
If you would like to donate blood to the cause, you can scan the QR code to sign up for an appointment.
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