Blood makes a heartfelt gift for the holidays

SEELEY LAKE – Alysa Loesch sat relaxed on the gurney at the Seeley-Swan High School gym. Blood dripped from a tube in her arm to a collection bag below. Loesch was one of the estimated 15-25 students and community members who donated blood at the Dec. 4 Red Cross blood drive.

Loesch is a junior at the high school, but this is already the second time she has given blood. Asked why she chooses to donate, she said, "Because I know I may be saving someone's life somewhere."

In an email, Red Cross Communications Manager Natividad Lewis said the American Red Cross organization has accepted the manda...