Blood Drive for Jazmina set for July 8
By: Shelia Mader
A special blood drive will be held Wednesday, July 8, at the Historic First National Bank Building in the parking lot at 2875 Caledonia Street in Marianna. The drive is in honor of Jazmina Matias, a vibrant little girl whose life was cut tragically short by leukemia. The event, organized by her mother, Rebecca Matias, commemorated what would have been Jazmina’s fourth birthday.
Hours of the blood drive will be 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Each donor will receive a $20 e-gift card, a Big Red Bus T-shirt and a Wellness Checkup. Jazmina’s story is the face of OneBlood’s “Childhood Cancer Awareness Campaign” from July through September.
Jazmina was born on July 5, 2022, and passed away October 2024, after a courageous battle with leukemia. Her diagnosis came August 2024, and her family quickly found themselves navigating a heartbreaking journey that took them from Jackson Hospital to Shands in Gainesville.
“She was in the hospital for about three months,” Rebecca shared. “She went through chemotherapy and received countless blood transfusions. That’s what really inspired me to do this blood drive. I wanted to honor her birthday in a way that could help others the way so many people helped us.”
Jazmina is remembered not only as a fighter but also as a beloved daughter and sister. She leaves behind four siblings: Taina Matias (21) Dominic (9) and Eric (7), who both attend Day Spring in Marianna, and baby sister Athena, who recently turned two. Her father, also named Dominic, and the rest of the family continue to keep her memory alive through love, community support, and meaningful gestures like this blood drive.
The family started a nonprofit in Jazmina’s honor to help other families going through childhood cancer. It’s called Jazzy’s Joy and can be found on Facebook or at Jazzysjoy.org online.
