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As summer begins and people gather for holiday celebrations, the American Red Cross reminds communities that patients are counting on blood and platelet donors, especially around the Fourth of July.

The Red Cross sees about a 21% decline in donations during holiday weeks, including Independence Day. When those drop, so does the blood supply, making it challenging to ensure blood is available when hospitals and patients, like 4-year-old Olivia Enders of West Linn, need it.

Olivia was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in August 2021. She has received 20 blood transfusions as pa...