In honor of my brother, Ben Bonner, who tragically died after donating blood at a school blood drive.

At 7 months old, Ben was diagnosed with congenital heart defects and congestive heart failure. He was put on medication for hypertension. Emergency heart surgery was needed and coarctation of the aorta was performed. Throughout Ben's life, he had multiple heart catheterizations. In fourth grade, he underwent brain surgery for Chiari Malformation. Ben averaged at least one hospitalization per year and had stress tests performed regularly. He was not allowed to participate in activities such as high-contact sports which resulted in him being the kicker for the high school football team since there was low contact. Doctors told him he could not lift weights and do other 'normal' activities many teenagers could. There seemed to be a lack of supervision/screening when allowing Ben to donate blood at school without his parents' consent.

Businesses should not be profiting from minors donating blood. Minors do not have the capacity to make these decisions that could greatly affect their health.

Under current law, North Carolina allows any person age 16 or older to give or donate blood without parental consent. Senator Ralph Hise and Senator Julie Mayfield introduced Senate Bill 782, which would raise the age without parental consent from 16 to 18. 

Other ways to help would be to contact your state representatives and senators and urge them to support this bill when it is reintroduced. Look up your state legislators here:

https://www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators

NCDHHS states a child is anyone under the age of 18. 

Blood donation ultimately caused the death of not only a human being, but someone's son, someone's brother, and someone's friend. How many children will die before something is changed?