Laurier’s Deanne Piticco gives blood to honour ‘kind deeds’ legacy of friend, alumna Heidi Schlumpf

Dec. 4, 2023

Deanne Piticco (BA ’05) has donated blood on Sept. 8 for the last three years. The day, an ordinary one for some, holds great significance for Piticco and those who knew and loved Laurier alumna Heidi Schlumpf (BA ’10).

Schlumpf, a mother to four young children, had treatment for Triple Negative Metastatic breast cancer on Sept. 7, 2021 – one day before her 34th birthday. Determined to remain positive during treatment, Schlumpf asked friends and family members to put a kind deed in their social media feeds to celebrate her birthday and help keep her spirits high.

Piticco honoured her friend’s request by making a blood donation on Sept. 8, 2021, at Canadian Blood Services’ Waterloo clinic. She posted her kind deed to social media with the hashtag #putakinddeedinyourfeed chosen by Schlumpf.

Piticco and Schlumpf met at Laurier’s Waterloo campus in 2007. Piticco was working as a residence life coordinator and supervisor to Schlumpf, a student-don in Clara Conrad Residence. The two became fast friends and remained in each other’s lives long after Schlumpf graduated from Laurier in 2010.

Schlumpf passed away on Aug. 10, 2022. To honour Schlumpf’s legacy of committing kind deeds, Piticco continues to give blood. She made her 25th blood donation on Dec. 1, 2023, with Schlumpf’s passion for life – even in the face of adversity – top of mind.

“Heidi was such a kind and beautiful person,” says Piticco. “I miss her so much but am honoured to help keep her legacy alive by continuing to put kind deeds in my feed. Giving blood feels like a good way to do that for Heidi.”

Blood donors can support cancer patients who may need transfusions to replenish red blood cell counts suppressed by chemotherapy. Healthy red blood cell counts can relieve fatigue and weakness in patients fighting cancer.

Laurier’s Holiday Blood Drive

As a member of Canadian Blood Services’ Partners for Life program, Laurier is holding a holiday blood drive between Nov. 27 and Dec. 22 to help patients in need of life-saving blood donations.

Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the university are invited to give as members of Laurier’s Partners for Life team. Appointments must be booked online in advance. Donations can be made at any Canadian Blood Services donor centre or mobile clinic in Canada.

To get started:

• Review Canadian Blood Services’ updated donor eligibility requirements.
• Complete the online form to join Laurier’s Partners for Life team. You can also download the GiveBlood app from Google Play or the App Store and follow these simple instructions to create your account.
• Book your appointment through the GiveBlood app or online at blood.ca at a location convenient for you.

Canadian Blood Services’ Waterloo clinic is located at 94 Bridgeport Rd. E. and open during the following times:

• Monday and Wednesday: 2 to 7 p.m.
• Tuesday: 1 to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Waterloo clinic is open Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but closed Dec. 25. Regular hours resume Dec. 26.

In Brantford, Canadian Blood Services will hold mobile clinics on Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 at Hope Reformed Christian Church, 64 Buchanan Cres.

Other Ways to Support Canadian Blood Services

Not everyone can give blood. There are other ways to support Laurier’s partnership with Canadian Blood Services:

• Raise awareness about the ongoing need for blood by sharing Canadian Blood Services’ content on your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
• Volunteer at your local Canadian Blood Services clinic location.
• Join the stem cell registry if you are between the ages of 17 and 35.

If you are unsure if you are eligible to donate, please visit the Canadian Blood Services eligibility page or call 1.888.2.DONATE to speak with a nurse.