Liver Transplant Patient's Mom Thankful As Community Supports Blood Drive

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh community has come through after a special request from a sick little boy and his family. It all came together Friday at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland.

It was a blood drive hosted by the Central Blood Bank for the Goeller family who just wants to give back.

The lobby of the Petersen Events Center took on a different look as nurses prepped and drew blood from donors who had come out to make a difference and to reach out for a special cause.

"I met Lucas' mother at Children's Hospital when my son was there, and she was just so nice. I have been following Lucas' Facebook page and I saw they were having a replenishing drive, so I decided to help him," said Melissa Csorba, of Glassport.

Stephanie Stanley also saw the need.

"I just saw the call out and I wanted to give a little back," she said.

Rebecca Marino also felt the need.

"I had seen Lucas on TV and thought it was great he finally got a liver," Marino said.

The Central Blood Bank hosted the blood drive for 2-year-old Lucas Goeller and his family.

Jessica, his mother, told KDKA's Brenda Waters she was speechless.

"The words can't truly say what I am seeing here, first everyone came together to try to save my son, he was given a liver, now people are giving blood," she said.

Lucas was given a life-saving liver transplant July 1 at Children's Hospital. He needed a lot of blood.

This drive was not specifically for Lucas, but for hundreds of other children who need organ and blood donations. Meantime, Lucas has been taken off the ventilator

By noon, more than 80 people had donated blood. The Central Blood Bank hoped to top 100 by 7 o'clock when the drive ended.

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