LEAVING A LEGACY: STUDENTS HOLD BLOOD DRIVE IN HONOR OF FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO DIED
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO STUDENTS HOLD BLOOD DRIVE TO HONOR CLASSMATE
18 YEAR OLD JACQUEZ WELCH COLLAPSED ON A FOOTBALL FIELD; DOCTORS SAID HE HAD A PRE-EXISTING BRAIN CONDITION
A high school football player from Florida is leaving a legacy after his heart wrenching and sudden death. Jacquez Welch collapsed during a football game in September and then died at a St.Petersburg hospital. Students from his high school organized a blood drive in his memory. Big Red buses were setup in front of Northeast High School. Faculty, students and members of the community donated 80 units of blood in the morning long drive.
Welch’s mother, Marcia Nelson, was overwhelmed by the support. She visited with the many people donating.
“Wow! I think he would be very excited and happy with himself to get out the message for him even though he is not here. It is real big,” said Nelson.
Nelson said her eldest son, who goes by Quez, started donating blood when he turned 16.
“It helped us so it could help someone else,” said Nelson.
Jacquez’s little brother, now 12 needed a blood transfusion when he was born.
“When he found out help could help someone else he was a helping person.
He would help anyone,” said Nelson.
But, Jacquez didn’t get a chance to fulfill all his dreams. He collapsed after a 60 yard touchdown. Doctors at the hospital said suffered from a pre-existing condition in his brain called arteriovenous malformation, which is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels.
“He showed no symptoms at all, no headaches or anything. I feel a part of me is gone,” said Nelson.
One of the student nurses charged with Welch’s care was so moved by Nelson and her son, she gave blood in his name.
“I’m a person who loves to give back. I used to go to Northeast High School and it’s to honor Jacquez. So, I wanted to come out here and show my support to him and his mom and I wanted to donate blood today to save other lives,” said Shanae Aaron.
Student Hailey Stanton donated along with her mother, Keri.
“So, when we donate blood we are trying to live through him and do what he would want us to do,” said Hailey.
Keri Stanton said, “It’s really important because you never know whose going to need it.
It might be you it might be a family member. It is a way to be there for someone else in need.”
Nelson said her son’s heart would be full to see the show of support. Not only did he donate blood, he donated his organs saving seven others.
“He would give you the shirt off his back that has come true by donating his organs and saving the lives of seven others,” said Stanton.
Nelson said it is these steps by the community that offer her comfort.
“It’s amazing it’s amazing,” said Stanton.
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OneBlood is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community asset responsible for providing safe, available and affordable blood to more than 250 hospital partners and their patients throughout Florida and into areas of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. OneBlood distributes more than one million blood products annually, operates nearly 90 donor centers and deploys close to 200 of its signature Big Red Buses throughout its service area for blood drives. To learn more about OneBlood please visit www.oneblood.org.