Arabhorse.com Spotlight - Taryn Derse
Taryn Derse is a 19 year old freshman who just finished her first year at Arizona State University; she is working towards a major in Secondary Education and a Minor in English. On June 4th she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, cancer of the bone marrow, and two days later was admitted to Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Hospital.
Taryn has been riding Arabians with Jeffrey and Amy Wilms since she was 5 years old. She is a very talented rider and has been seen competing in all aspects of our industry from Working Cow to Ladies Sidesaddle. Despite the challenges Taryn has been strong and positive and sees this as a speed bump in her life's journey.
The family is overwhelmed with the support that not only their friends and family have shown but also that of the Arabian Horse Community. It is important that in hard times we come together as a community and continue to support one another. After returning from the hospital, Taryn's mother wrote, "I drove home tonight from the hospital to find orange (the color for leukemia) ribbons on all the sign posts and mailboxes in our neighborhood. I don't know which of my wonderful neighbors is responsible, but I cried. You have all been so supportive and so generous."
After going through this Taryn has seen firsthand the shortage of blood in our nation's blood banks, she hopes that people will donate blood instead of gifts. It is important to know that with new techniques, you are also able to donate bone marrow by just giving blood, instead of the painful procedure it used to be. Even if you are unable to help her with your donation, many others will benefit.
5 Facts about blood donation (Courtesy of America's Blood Centers http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=page.view&pid=12)
- 4.5 million Americans will a need blood transfusion each year.
- 43,000 pints: amount of donated blood used each day in the U.S. and Canada.
- Someone needs blood every two seconds.
- About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood.
- One pint of blood can save up to three lives.
Find your nearest Blood Center: click here
