Jeanette Chase

Daily Point of Light # 3556 Sep 20, 2007

In 1999, Jeanette was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare, acquired, sensory-motor nerve disorder that is considered to be the chronic variety of the Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). She was losing strength and confined to a wheelchair. She now walks with a cane, thanks to years of treatments with immunoglobulin, a drug made from blood products.

Jeanette was determined to "give back" for the donations of blood and joined the Carter BloodCare Donor council at Lockheed-Martin, her place of work. Jeanette has worked at this council for 3 years. In 2005, Jeanette joined the donor council for the Carter BloodCare center in Keller and is now serving as the Chairperson for this council. Jeanette works with both councils to help increase awareness of the great need for blood. She has worked with a multi-council group to design and build Carter BloodCare floats for Christmas parades for the last 4 years.

Jeanette organized car shows to bring people to blood drives in Keller in 2005 & 2006. Not only did the Keller blood center draw record numbers of donors, over $10,000 was raised for Leukemia & Lymphoma research. Jeanette continues to look for new ways to draw people to the blood center by working with local businesses and other service organizations.

In 2004, Carter BloodCare partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help raise funds for research to find a cure for blood related diseases. Jeanette volunteered to form and lead Lockheed-Martin teams for the Light the Night walk in 2004 and 2005. Lockheed’s combined total in 2004 was $10,000. Jeanette could not take the walk, but stayed behind and cheered her team on. The 2005 total raised was over $25,000 and Jeanette proudly participated in the walk on her scooter. Jeanette continues to raise funds through the Keller council today.


jaytennier