Hope for Alyssa - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

Parents imagine this. Your young child is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and is fighting for their life. Sadly this is a reality for a 10-year-old Copperas Cove girl. But with the help of Facebook, she has hope.

John Southard planned to spend the day with his newborn at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, but suddenly found himself at the Blood Donation Center, giving blood for a stranger.

"I was on Facebook and I saw that Fort Hood Area Events had put a posting out that a little girl needed some blood so I decided to come down since I was right upstairs and help out," said Southard.

That little girl is Alyssa Ranard. In June she was diagnosed with a rare cancer that attacks the bones, she has seven tumors. But with the help Chemotherapy, they're shrinking. But because of the Chemotherapy, she needs blood transfusion. But her blood is Type O Negative.

"Unfortunately there are only about 7% of the population that has O Negative so we don't get a lot of that type in to use," said Lori Smith, Supervisor at Blood Donor Services.

So with the help of Alyssa's Facebook Page, word spread and the donation center is packed. Alyssa's mother can't believe how much support they've had.

"Since Alyssa got sick so many people have helped us with so much, they don't realize, just doing that alone how it means not just to us, but to all the families here," said her mother, Misty Rich.

Donating just one pint of blood can save up to three lives. "It makes me feel accomplished that I can help someone with such a little thing," said Southard.

While Alyssa does need Type O Negative Blood they say anyone with any blood type can donate.

There will be a blood drive for Alyssa on Wednesday, October 3rd at the Martin Walker Elementary School in Copperas Cove from 2-7 p.m.