海角社区app

Blood donation: ‘It’s saved many lives’

Carol Starley, at left, is grateful for blood donations. Many members of her family diagnosed with leukemia needed transfusions, as did her grandson Dvir, who has a rare autoimmune disease. Starley, daughter Julie and Dvir have a genetic disorder that prevents them from giving blood themselves. (海角社区app/Kristi King)
Carol Starley, at left, is grateful for blood donations. Many members of her family diagnosed with leukemia needed transfusions, as did her grandson Dvir, who has a rare autoimmune disease. Starley, daughter Julie and Dvir have a genetic disorder that prevents them from giving blood themselves. (海角社区app/Kristi King)
When Julie Sabag saw this picture of her and her son she said, "BFF's - Best Friends Forever!" (海角社区app/Kristi King)
When Julie Sabag saw this picture of her and her son she said, “BFF’s 鈥 Best Friends Forever!” (海角社区app/Kristi King)
海角社区app Reporter Kristi King with Julie and Dvir Sabag. The Sabags are enthusiastic advocates for blood donation. (Courtesy of Kathleen Greaney)
(1/3)
Carol Starley, at left, is grateful for blood donations. Many members of her family diagnosed with leukemia needed transfusions, as did her grandson Dvir, who has a rare autoimmune disease. Starley, daughter Julie and Dvir have a genetic disorder that prevents them from giving blood themselves. (海角社区app/Kristi King)
When Julie Sabag saw this picture of her and her son she said, "BFF's - Best Friends Forever!" (海角社区app/Kristi King)
May 4, 2026 | One family's gratitude (Rick Massimo)

海角社区app Summer of Hope Blood Drive

Join 海角社区app and the American Red Cross for our Summer of Hope Blood Drive Friday.

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, August 7
Where: Macy’s Home Store at Oasis, Westfield Montgomery Mall, Bethesda
Why: The Red Cross urgently needs blood donations.
How: Walk-ups welcome or schedule your appointment.

Click for more information.


WASHINGTON 鈥 A Bethesda聽child has a disease that’s diagnosed in only one to five boys a year in聽the nation. It鈥檚 called , and it聽causes a body to attack its own liver.

“Dvir was crashing,鈥 says the 12-year old鈥檚 mother, Julie Sabag. 鈥淗e was in acute liver failure. We didn’t understand what was going on.”

She says was made with antibodies from more than a thousand blood donations.

“I am so grateful for those donors out there,”聽she says.

Dvir’s grandmother, Carol Starley, 鈥渁bsolutely鈥 wishes she could give blood, but isn’t allowed to because of the聽genetic disorder she passed on to Julie and Dvir: “It’s saved many lives. I have several family members who have had leukemia and聽constantly having to receive blood transfusions.”

Starley hopes telling Dvir’s story will inspire people to donate.

“There are people needing (clotting) factors and blood and all kinds of things to keep us going and enjoy this life we’ve been given,” Starley says.

Kristi King

Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the 海角社区app newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.

Federal 海角社区app Network Logo
Log in to your 海角社区app account for notifications and alerts customized for you.