Meet Ezra Blue

A courageous Ezra Blue learns to walk again

Editor’s Note - Ryan Lawrence has given us an in-depth piece here about people saving people through the simple act of blood donation. And while we may not know the outcome of laying on a cot and filling a pint bag for those who need it most, Ryan does a great job of making it explicitly clear in this two-part series. It runs today, Nov. 2 and Wednesday, Nov. 3.

By Ryan Lawrence  

 CGCC is hosting a blood drive with the Red Cross, on January 6th, in honor of the son of one of our students, Hannah Duckwall. 

I would like to introduce them and tell you why it is so important for anyone that is eligible to donate to do so.

Meet Ezra Blue, the bravest little man in the land.

Meet Ezra

Ezra Blue is a bright-eyed four-year-old with a kind heart. On April 2nd, 2021, Ezra underwent brain surgery to remove an egg-sized tumor from his fourth ventricle. On April 8th, 2021, he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, which is particularly aggressive and malignant brain cancer. Ezra was placed in the high-risk category because cancer had spread from his brain and into his spinal cord. In April, Ezra had a total of five surgeries. In the process, he lost a very large percent of his motor functions. Ezra was no longer able to walk, talk, or even hold up his own head. 

Hannah said that prior to his surgery, Ezra loved to dance to BLACKPINK, a K-pop band.

In May, Ezra began chemotherapy. He just completed his fifth cycle of chemo and will be heading back to the hospital in November for his sixth, and potentially final, cycle. After that, the doctors will decide whether Ezra needs further treatment and what that treatment would be. 

Hannah told me that Ezra works really hard with physical and occupational therapy. He can walk again, and even dance on his “wobbly little legs.” 

Ezra shares a smile with his mom Hannah Duckwall, a CGCC student.

You may have read about Ezra on Facebook or even heard about him in other ways. He was recently honored by the 2021 Pigbowl Fundraiser. Tilly Jane’s, in Hood River, held a car wash for him.  And many community members also showed up for Ezra’s Fourth Birthday Drive-by Parade.

“I am blown away daily by the community's response to Ezra and his situation. We've had so many people come forth and help us, even people that we've never even met. This community has a huge collective caring heart, and they have made it known,” said Hannah. 

Ezra sometimes spends up to three weeks at a time in the hospital while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. A normal week during these stays looks like this; on the first and second day is chemotherapy treatment. This is followed by a much-needed day of rest. On the fourth day are stem cell transplants. 

The rest of the week is spent solely on his recovery from chemotherapy. This is something that is done together though, as a family. Ezra is not alone in this fight. His mother is with him every step of the way.

Recently, Ezra had a nose bleed  while getting a platelet transfusion that lasted for three and a half hours. Platelets are a blood product that gives blood its natural ability to clot. The nurses tried several different medications but could not get the bleeding to stop. That day at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, there were only four bags of platelets for the entire hospital. Ezra used two of them before his nose finally stopped bleeding at the four hour mark.  

“This is why they need donations. Had they been out of platelets that day, I don't know what would've happened,” said Hannah.

Hannah eventually had to withdraw from classes at CGCC, because as she said, “Cancer is a full-time job.” But before doing so she became part of our creative writing family. And one of the other students shared a Facebook post about the problems she and Ezra were facing in a group email. The suggestion was made to organize a drive to fill this need, and ASG was happy to help make that happen.  

After filling out a formal request with the Red Cross, we were contacted by the regional booking manager within the hour!

Marcea Vandermeer of the Red Cross was so excited to hear we were interested in hosting a drive and suggested that we hold the event in Ezra’s honor. We at CGCC thought this was a wonderful idea. A date was set that same week and here we are advertising for next week. 

It truly does amaze me how quickly all of our communities in the gorge come together when someone is in need. 

September and October currently have the lowest recorded national blood inventory in more than a decade. There is growing concern about the availability for patients in need, through the winter months.

 “Donor turnout has reached the lowest level of the year as many delayed giving amid a return to the workplace and in-person learning, as well as a result of the continued impacts of COVID-19,” according to the Red Cross. “The Red Cross is working around the clock to meet the blood needs of hospitals and patients –but can’t do it alone.” 

We at CGCC, and those at the Red Cross, urge anyone eligible to donate to come out and do so. All blood types are needed, but O types are especially in demand because they can be given to anyone in most cases. It is really neat; let me explain.

O negative blood is universal; meaning it can be given to anyone in need of blood or platelets. This is what emergency rooms use when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type. 

 O positive can be given to anyone with a positive in their blood type (A+ B+ AB+ O+).

Another little-known fact about blood is that it cannot be stockpiled or stored. There is no secret stash hidden away for rainy days.  It has a fairly short shelf life. Many patients across the country, and right here in the gorge, depend on the kindness and generosity of volunteer donors to keep a steady supply on hand.

We are living in strange and uncertain times. Anyone of any age can fall ill in an instant. If we as community members do not step up and answer this call, I fear there may not be resources waiting for us when we most need them ourselves. 

That is something to chew on there, folks.

The blood drive will be on The Dalles CGCC campus at 400 E. Scenic Drive, on January 6th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Many patients across the country, and right here in the gorge, depend on the kindness and generosity of volunteer donors to keep a steady supply of blood on hand. We at CGCC, and those at the Red Cross, urge anyone eligible to donate to come out and do so on January 6th, 2022. 

The event will be held at 400 E. Scenic Drive in The Dalles (CGCC Campus) from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the lecture hall. That is in Building 2 on the third floor. 

Eligible donors can follow this link https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=cgccthedalles to sign up and schedule a time to donate.

If you have any trouble with registration, please contact Tori at tstanek@cgcc.edu. She will get you pointed in the direction.  

Come back in on Wednesday, Nov. 3, to read about Hans Weberling, and how his fight inspired his mother Lara to pursue a career with purpose.