Growing up, Allyson Ritchey spent her childhood in hospitals with her mother, who was diagnosed with leukemia when Allyson was just 8 years old. “I was probably the only third grader or elementary student in my entire school who knew what leukemia was,” she said. Throughout her mother’s treatment, blood — especially platelets — played a critical role. “My mother had to go through a lot of transfusions,” Allyson said. “She actually needed a lot of platelet donations specifically.” When Allyson reached high school, she tried to give blood for the first time, but it didn’t go as planned. She tried again in college, but once again, was unable to complete the donation. Still, she didn’t give up. The third time was a charm. It was March, a month that carries a lot of meaning for Allyson. Her mother’s birthday falls on March 1, and the anniversary of her passing on March 28. With both dates in mind, she decided to try one more time. That day, her third attempt became her first successf...