Scott & White to hold blood drive for Copperas Cove student

A blood drive will be held Oct. 3 to benefit a Copperas Cove ISD elementary student who is fighting a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Alyssa Ranard is a 10-year-old fifth grade student at Martin Walker Elementary School. She has been battling Metastatic Multifocal Osteosarcoma since early June of this year, when she was diagnosed. This type of cancer attacks the bones, and is said to be extremely rare and difficult to treat.

Ranard’s mom, Misty Rich, said her daughter is on her second round of chemotherapy and is currently stable, at Scott and White Children’s Hospital, after a night battling spiking fevers.

“Alyssa is a fighter,” said Martin Walker Principal Amanda Crawley, describing Ranard as a genuine kid who is super resilient and sparkles when she smiles. “Even on her most difficult days, she has wanted to be in school.”
Late on the evening of Oct. 2, the district posted information on its Facebook page regarding Alyssa’s need for O Negative blood. The community and school district response was so great that Scott and White Blood Center decided to arrange with CCISD officials a blood drive in Copperas Cove. “They have come together like I never imagined a community could,” Rich said.

Rich said she cannot possibly thank the community enough for the outpouring of help they’ve received over the past months. This blood drive, she said, is an incredible opportunity not only to help Alyssa but also all the many children at Scott and White Children’s Hospital she has fallen in love with.

The blood drive will take place Oct. 3, from 2-7 p.m., at Martin Walker Elementary School, 100 FM 3046. Scott and White will accept all blood types in Alyssa’s honor, though Ranard is O Negative. Rich also pointed out that the family has become close to another young patient battling cancer, who is in need of O Positive blood.

“It’s not just for my daughter,” Rich said. “If you help in anyway, you don’t realize what an impact you have on all these kids.”

(Cove Leader Press)