SPOKANE-- A Sandpoint woman who lost her son to childhood cancer is sharing her story to help promote the KREM Cares Blood Drive.
Kristine Cordle's son Tyler was diagnosed with a form of cancer linked to underdeveloped nerve cells.
Doctors treated Tyler with Chemotherapy and as the chemo attacked the cancer, it also attacked Tyler’s blood.
Tyler received around 40 blood transfusions to survive cancer treatment. It eased his discomfort and gave Tyler's parent more time.
Tyler relapsed 8 months after remission. "When the doctor came in and told me what they'd found on the x-ray could be cancer. I started crying he started giving me kisses and wiping the tears away from my face and he wasn't even 3 years old."
The cancer attacked the toddler at an unprecedented rate. Tyler's cancer was untreatable and a ventilator had to keep him alive. A few days later Tyler died before his third birthday.
Kristine wants people to know the sweet moments she shared with her son were possible because of blood donation.
The blood drive starts at 7 a.m. at KREM-TV on South Regal, the Inland Northwest Blood Center, and Valley Hospital.
Donations centers are open until 7 p.m.
