For years in Bakersfield Audrey Chavez has been the face of compassion to the community of HIV and AIDS patients.
So, it's no surprise, in her moment of need, so many would roll up their sleeves to help when they heard Chavez was in the hospital. Nineteen-year old Patrice Vega is one of three of Audrey's interns who donated blood Tuesday in Audrey Chavez's name. Chavez is the founder of the Bakersfield AIDS Project and Ricky's Retreat, offering services to HIV and AIDS patients. "She just hadn't been feeling good the past 2 weeks and she's been taking antibiotics and they weren't helping her," says Phillip Castro, intern.
"All that's known now is that we know is that there has been loss of blood and she needs blood and they are still trying to diagnose what her condition is." Robert Petersen, a volunteer at the Bakersfield AIDS Project, helped organize a blood drive at Houchin Blood Bank.
Although Chavez got the emergency A+ blood she needed, donations of all kinds were constant Tuesday. "Yes I think all of our rooms are full right now and things are picking up," says Carola Enriquez, Houchin Blood Bank. "We don't know at this point whether she might need more blood and refilling the shelves is a constant battle."
"Audrey is such a good person and just to see that she's in need to she's helped so many people so to be able to help her in a way," adds Castro. "What Audrey would want all of us to do is to to help our fellow man and that's want Audrey is about, helping people," adds Petersen.
The blood drive for Audrey Chavez is going on until February 9. A family friend of Chavez says Chavez is resting comfortably, but doctors still don't know why she has internal bleeding.
She says she's gone through 6 units of blood. We tried contacting several members of her family, but have not heard back from them. We will keep you posted on her status.
So, it's no surprise, in her moment of need, so many would roll up their sleeves to help when they heard Chavez was in the hospital. Nineteen-year old Patrice Vega is one of three of Audrey's interns who donated blood Tuesday in Audrey Chavez's name. Chavez is the founder of the Bakersfield AIDS Project and Ricky's Retreat, offering services to HIV and AIDS patients. "She just hadn't been feeling good the past 2 weeks and she's been taking antibiotics and they weren't helping her," says Phillip Castro, intern.
"All that's known now is that we know is that there has been loss of blood and she needs blood and they are still trying to diagnose what her condition is." Robert Petersen, a volunteer at the Bakersfield AIDS Project, helped organize a blood drive at Houchin Blood Bank.
Although Chavez got the emergency A+ blood she needed, donations of all kinds were constant Tuesday. "Yes I think all of our rooms are full right now and things are picking up," says Carola Enriquez, Houchin Blood Bank. "We don't know at this point whether she might need more blood and refilling the shelves is a constant battle."
"Audrey is such a good person and just to see that she's in need to she's helped so many people so to be able to help her in a way," adds Castro. "What Audrey would want all of us to do is to to help our fellow man and that's want Audrey is about, helping people," adds Petersen.
The blood drive for Audrey Chavez is going on until February 9. A family friend of Chavez says Chavez is resting comfortably, but doctors still don't know why she has internal bleeding.
She says she's gone through 6 units of blood. We tried contacting several members of her family, but have not heard back from them. We will keep you posted on her status.