Family rallies to support blood donation in honor of their son
Seventeen-year-old Mason Wadd is not your typical 11th grade high school student. Not only is he active in his school’s speech, theatre and drama clubs, a member of 4-H and Future Farmers of America, he’s also an entrepreneur who owns and co-operates a 5-acre sweetcorn business with his sister Kloe. A strapping young man with a bright future ahead, you would never know that Mason was born extremely premature at 26 weeks due to a rare blood antibody disorder and needed multiple blood transfusions to help save his life.
At just 18 weeks it was discovered that Mason had inherited an antigen (Kell) that caused antibodies to destroy his red blood cells – leading to severe fetal anemia. Even before he was born, Mason received his first blood transfusion through his umbilical cord. Two more transfusions followed and soon after, Mason was born at 26 weeks weighing just 2.8 pounds and 14” long.
Mason had a rough start. The preemie was in the NICU on a ventilator for the first 5 days of his life. During his 77-day stay in the NICU, Mason required surgery to have a blood clot removed from his brain and also received an additional 8 blood transfusions due to being anemic before he was strong enough to go home. Remarkably, the Wadd’s were able to take Mason home from the hospital just days before his original due date.
“We credit blood with helping save our son’s life,” says his mother, Kari Wadd. “Without blood being available when Mason needed it, he may not have survived.”
In November 2022, Mason faced the possibility of needing more blood products during a mechanical heart valve replacement surgery. The hospital had to ensure they had blood available if a transfusion was required, but they were able to use Mason’s own recycled blood.
When Kari heard the Red Cross had a blood shortage this fall, she felt compelled to help by hosting a Red Cross blood drive in honor of Mason. “It’s the perfect time to do our part now that Mason is old enough to understand the importance that blood has played in his life,” Kari says. “This blood drive is a celebration of Mason’s one year post heart surgery and a way to help raise awareness of the need for blood donations.”
Why the Red Cross?
The Red Cross has always held a special place in Kari’s heart. In 1998, when her family’s farm was hit by a tornado that ravished the St. Peter, Minnesota community, the Red Cross was there to help. “The only thing that was left on our farm was the house and the Red Cross came and asked us what we needed,” Kari vividly recalls.
In college, Kari went on to help organize Red Cross blood drives and still helps at community blood drives. Even Mason’s sister Kloe, advocates for blood donations through her Miss Southern Minnesota platform and Community Service Initiatives while competing in the Miss Minnesota competition. “It’s so much part of our lives – she knows how important it is too,” says Kari.
The Wadd’s are grateful to blood donors and encourage others to give to help ensure a stable blood supply. “When it’s something so simple to do – it doesn’t cost you a thing, just time – we want to encourage others to donate so if their family was ever in need, they wouldn’t have to worry about blood being there.”
Mason is thankful for blood donors too. “I feel guilty even asking others to donate because I can’t myself, but it is so important,” he says.
“What’s next for me? I have my junior and senior years of high school ahead of me; without blood donations I wouldn’t be able to say that.”
Blood drive in honor of Mason Wadd
Farmamerica
Community Room
7367 360th Ave.
Waseca, MN
Friday, December 29, 2023
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter:
Farmamerica to schedule an appointment.
If you can’t join the blood drive in Mason’s honor and wish to help patients like him receive lifesaving transfusions, please book a blood donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 