In order to promote awareness of the upcoming 18th Annual Okeechobee Blood Roundup to be held at the Freshman Campus Auditorium on Nov. 18 and 19, we share stories of local Okeechobee folks who have received donations of blood and the difference it made in their lives.

Mark Garland is a corrections officer with the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office and works at the county jail. He plans to retire on Oct. 31. He is sharing his story of receiving a blood transfusion, and he wants to educate people about Lynch Syndrome.

Lynch syndrome is among the most common hereditary cancer syndromes. Estimates suggest as many as 1 in every 300 people may be carriers of an alteration in a gene associated with Lynch syndrome. People who have Lynch syndrome have a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. There is also an increased risk of developing other types of cancers, such as uterine, ovarian, stomach, pancreatic, and brain cancer. In addition, cancers associated with Lynch syndrome are more likely to be diagnosed at a young age.

Mark’s family has a history of colon cancer. His father was diagnosed with colon cancer in his 20’s and Mark’s brother was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 19. In 2020, Mark had pain in his abdomen where his appendix was located. While in surgery for an appendectomy, a mass was found and removed together with colon resection. The mass was determined to be cancerous so Mark began 12 rounds of chemotherapy. During his chemo therapy, Mark’s red blood cell count and platelets got so low that he required a blood transfusion.

After the chemo therapy, the colon cancer had spread, so Mark had a second surgery to remove the second mass. He is now on the immunotherapy drug Keytruda that he receives every three weeks and is cancer-free.

Please thank Mark for sharing his story by donating the gift of life — your blood — at the 18th Annual Okeechobee Blood Roundup on Nov. 18 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Freshman Campus Auditorium. All blood donors will receive a commemorative Roundup T-shirt and a goody bag.