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Donate Blood
Josnell Antoine shares a tender moment with his son Gibbs who requires regular blood infusions as part of his treatment for a brain tumor.

City employees invite community to participate in blood drive

Posted December 3, 2008

On Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Florida’s Blood Centers will be conducting a blood drive in front of the Port St. Lucie City Hall, 121 S.W. Port St. Lucie Boulevard, and organizers hope that the community will come out to donate blood, help to save a life, and have fun in the process.

At first glance the accompanying photograph, is simply the image of a father sharing a tender moment with his son. Then, as you look more closely, you notice the young boy’s scar.

Josnell Antoine is a phlebotomist with the St. Lucie West division of Florida’s Blood Centers. In a terribly ironic twist, he is also the father of a child with a brain tumor who requires regular blood infusions as part of his medical regimen. Young Gibbs Antoine, just 2 years old, has already undergone neurosurgery for the partial removal of a brain tumor. Surgical removal of the entire tumor was not possible without causing brain damage to Gibbs, so doctors are using radiation therapy with the hope of removing the rest.

On Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Florida’s Blood Centers will be conducting a blood drive in front of the Port St. Lucie City Hall, 121 S.W. Port St. Lucie Boulevard, and organizers hope that the community will come out to donate blood, help to save a life, and have fun in the process.

Everyone donating blood will receive a $10 Publix gift card, and will be entered to win $225 in American Express gift cards, to treat yourself or the favorite people on your gift list!

Santa’s helpers will be there, too, selling delicious Starbucks coffee and a baked goodie for $3. Plenty of other holiday goodies will be for sale as well, and all proceeds will go to the PSL Children’s Foundation in support of the Antoine family.

Donations of non-perishable foods will also be accepted. The food will be collected for the Treasure Coast Food Bank and to put in the "Senior Baskets," a volunteer initiative organized by city employees to help senior citizens at the holidays.

For more information on this very worthwhile cause, contact:

Rita Hart
Public Information Officer
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 873-6325