Blood drive held in support of 5-year-old Ayana Jaramillo

Friday evening was like any other day at Carlos Rivera Elementary. The bell rang and kids hurried home after school but this Friday was different.

A blood drive was held for one of their own students 5-year-old Ayana Jaramillo.

“It’s one of those things. It’s devastating, it’s absolutely devastating and it’s a life-changing event,” said Ayana’s father, Anthony Jaramillo.

Jaramillo tells ABC-7 Ayana appeared healthy but he and his wife had noticed slight changes in their daughter.

“We noticed a lot of bruising in her body. We noticed bleeding gums,” Jaramillo said.

On Sunday Jaramillo and his wife took Ayana to El Paso Childrens hospital were she was diagnosed with leukemia.

Ayana is undergoing chemotherapy. Since the process destroys both cancerous and healthy blood cells she will need frequent blood and platelet transfusions.

At Carlos Rivera people were donating blood all day.

“It’s kind of bittersweet. It’s nothing a parent wishes on their 5-year-old girl but the way the community has come together to support her I think is going to benefit her as well as all the other kids in the city of El Paso,” said Jaramillo.

Now Jaramillo and his wife want to use this tough life lesson to bring awareness.

“After my daughter gets better and fighting for her, it’s what our purpose will be and it’s going to be to promote leukemia and it’s something that’s going to be with us for the rest of our lives,” said Jaramillo.

United Blood Services will be having another blood drive in support of Ayana at Franklin High school, Dec. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.