Young cancer survivor’s story underscores need for blood donors
Parker Culp sat quietly as nurses in the oncology unit at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh accessed the port in his chest, tears slipping down his cheeks.
“That was not my favorite,” he said.
Parker’s mother, Allyson Culp, said moments like that revealed her son’s quiet strength, even when he was scared and the procedures he was going through were painful. “He was a little trooper,” she said.
Parker, now 5 years old, reached one year in remission in January, which followed a 10-month battle with stage 4 Wilms tumor, a rare kidney cancer that had spread to his lungs.
Parker required multiple blood and platelet transfusions during treatment, because chemotherapy lowered his counts and left him vulnerable. His story is a reminder of how critical those donations can be for families facing serious illness.
Vitalant, a nonprofit which operates 115 donation centers around the nation, urged residents to donate blood during April — National Volunteer Month — to help maintain a steady supply for local hospitals. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a transfusion, according to Vitalant.
People who donate blood May 1 through May 31 have the chance to win a $10,000 prepaid gift card at any Vitalant blood drive or donation center, in a further effort to raise the number of blood donations for the month.
Culp’s family, who live in Cecil Township, has long been committed to donating blood — she has been a regular blood donor for years — but that commitment was strengthened when her son needed transfusions during treatment that would literally be life-saving.
“Watching my son battle cancer, I realized that blood is the one medicine that cannot be manufactured,” Culp said. “Donors who gave just an hour of their time provided him the strength to keep fighting and ultimately helped save his life.”
Parker’s cancer journey began in March 2024, when his parents took their then 3-year-old to the pediatrician after a cold, low-grade fever and unusual lethargy. An X-ray led to the hospital, where doctors discovered a large tumor on his kidney that had spread to his lungs.
For the next 10 months, Parker underwent weekly chemotherapy, surgery to remove his kidney and radiation. His parents, both 33 years old, spent long nights at the hospital, while Culp’s parents cared for Parker’s infant sister, Macie, who was then 9 months old. As she cuddled her little boy in his hospital bed while her husband, Dillon Culp, slept on a couch, the same thought kept returning.
“I wish it was me. I wish I could have it and not him,” Allyson Culp said.
But despite the challenges, Allyson and Dillon worked to keep their son’s life as normal as possible between treatments. They had dance parties in the kitchen, went to the park to play and shared pizza nights. Although nausea often made it difficult to eat, Parker never turned down trips to the neighborhood ice cream shop.
“We still got to smile and laugh and enjoy life,” Allyson Culp said. “We didn’t want cancer to steal all the joy from it.”
Now in remission, Parker is “hungry again,” playing baseball and looking forward to starting kindergarten at Muse Elementary School in the Canon-McMillan School District this fall.
The family has settled back into everyday life and remains grateful for the support they received from friends, relatives and neighbors who called, sent messages of support, made meals, displayed “Parker Strong” signs and wore T-shirts in his honor. A neighbor in Cecil Township organized a spaghetti dinner fundraiser.
“We just felt so loved and supported,” Allyson Culp said.
The experience has inspired the Culps to share Parker’s story and encourage others to donate blood. Allyson Culp recently spoke to students at Keystone Oaks High School, where she teaches biology, about the importance of blood donation.
A student later told her “I just want you to know I gave blood because of you and Parker.”
Now, the Culps are focused on giving back — encouraging others to donate blood, a simple act they know can save lives for families like theirs.
More information about local blood drives and how to donate is available at vitalant.org or by calling 877-258-4825.
