Blood Drive Honors Memory of Young Jazmina Matias

By Shelia Mader

Jazmina Matias

A special blood drive was held Thursday, July 3, at the Wells Fargo Bank in Marianna 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, commemorates what would have been Jazmina’s third birthday.

Jazmina was born on July 5, 2022, and passed away on October 22, 2024, after a courageous battle with leukemia. Her diagnosis came just under a year ago in August, 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.”

Rebecca, who serves as the branch manager at Wells Fargo in Marianna, said it felt right to host the drive at her workplace. “I got all the approvals, and now we’re just trying to get the word out about how important it is to donate blood. We saw firsthand just how vital those donations are.”

Jazmina is remembered not only as a fighter but also as a beloved daughter and sister. She leaves behind three siblings: Dominic (8) and Eric (6), who both attend Day Springs in Marianna, and baby sister Athena, who recently turned one. 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 blood drive ran throughout the day at Wells Fargo Bank on July 3. “Every pint of blood donated is a potential life saved,” said Rebecca. “This is the best birthday gift we could give in Jazmina’s honor.” Everyone was pleased with the turnout, most especially with it so close to a holiday and multiple offices closed.

Jazmina’s mother, Rebecca has created a nonprofit in her honor to help other families going through terminal illness. It is called Jazzy’s Joy. The website is JazzysJoy.org. She has received the 501c3 for anyone wishing to donate. 

For more information or to schedule a donation time, contact Wells Fargo in Marianna or visit OneBlood.org.