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Twenty-two donate for firefighter
blooddrive2
Army Spc. John Geiger checks out his progress Friday while donating blood to support injured firefighter, Terry Nielson. - photo by Photo by Caitlyn Boza
Community members donated blood Friday afternoon to show their support for Terry Nielson, a Bryan County firefighter who is suffering from a serious medical condition at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta.
The Bryan County and Richmond Hill fire departments held the blood drive in the parking lot of the Publix on Hwy. 144 south of Richmond Hill.
Twenty-two people showed up at the Bloodmobile to donate, with 18 donating  specifically on Nielson’s behalf, including Spc. John Geiger of Fort Stewart.
“It just seemed like a really easy to way for me to help out, so why not?” said Geiger.
Nielson has been diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis – commonly known as the “flesh eating” disease. He has lost skin and muscle tissue on his upper body and will require months of skin grafts and rehabilitation.
“In the case of Mr. Nielsen, the surgeries to remove infection-damaged tissue and subsequent skin grafts result in significant blood loss that needs replenishing through transfusions,” explained Brenda Marion, donor resource consultant with the Blood Alliance in Savannah.
In addition to the blood drive, firefighters sold raffle tickets Friday for a 2010 Harley Davidson Dyna Superbike that was donated by Harley Davidson of Savannah. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the Nielson family.
This is the second blood drive in Nielson’s honor. The Bryan County and Richmond Hill fire departments held blood and boot drives July 24, when they raised $3,700 and 42 pints of blood.
A third blood drive will be held in Nielsen’s honor from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Publix parking lot on Hwy. 144.
In the meantime, blood donations in support of Terry Nielson can be made at any Blood Alliance mobile blood drive or donor center.
Please visit www.igiveblood.com for more information. 
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