On Saturday, 11-year-old Adrian Senentz was critically injured when a tree fell on him while he was clearing a nature park trail near Chattanooga with his local Boy Scout Troop. Adrian sustained broken ribs, a broken scapula, femur and pelvis, and a head injury. Adrian’s parents, Brett and Amanda Senentz, are now encouraging the community to donate blood in his honor at a public blood drive this Friday, at all of the Blood Assurance Chattanooga donor center locations.
Due to Adrian’s broken ribs, one of his lungs was punctured, requiring emergency surgery. Adrian lost a lot of blood, and his parents immediately began calling family and friends to make blood donations at Blood Assurance. He is currently at the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger while his family stays close by at the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Chattanooga, a “home away from home” for families of critically injured and seriously ill children.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Adrian and his family as they work through this tragic event and experience incredible suffering,” said Charlie Callari, vice president of marketing and donor recruitment for Blood Assurance, Inc. “We hope that anyone who knows Adrian and his family, as well as those who want to give back, will consider making a blood donation in his honor this Friday.”
To make a donation, you may visit any of the following Blood Assurance Chattanooga donor centers: 705 East 4th St. (Across from UTC’s McKenzie Arena) from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., 1740 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite B (Behind FSG Bank) from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and 1920 Northpoint Blvd., Suite A, Hixson (Behind Lowe's) from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Those wishing to financially support the Senentz family’s hospital bills may donate to the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/bnmh2btk.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids - avoiding caffeine - and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. For questions about donating blood, please call (423) 756-0966.