Blood drive helps USC Law staff member

Dozens participate in student-organized event

—By Lori Craig

In an outpouring of support, more than 40 students, faculty and staff donated blood at a student-organized drive to honor a USC Law staff member who recently underwent a bone marrow transplant.

Claudia Raphael

Claudia Raphael, supervising library specialist and eight-year employee of USC Law, has been battling acute myeloid leukemia since November 2007 and is currently recovering from a transplant received last month.

The blood drive, held Feb. 8 in the law library’s Campbell Lounge, was organized by 2L Nataline Viray-Fung and 2L Vice President David Aghaei and run by staff from the City of Hope cancer center in Duarte, Calif., where Raphael is being treated.

“We found out that Claudia has leukemia and needs frequent blood transfusions, and that a lot of staff and faculty were commuting to the City of Hope to donate,” Aghaei said. “We thought it would be a good idea to bring the City of Hope out here, and the response has been great. The time slots all filled up.”

Viray-Fung reported that 43 pints of blood were collected. Halfway through the event, the registration table had to close because additional donors could not be accommodated, sparking talk of another drive in the future.

USC Law student Tina Sohaili donates blood for the first time Feb. 7

First-year student Tina Sohaili, who had never before given blood, was one of the first people to donate.

“It’s something that everyone can do,” said Sohaili. “I can go to class afterward and it didn’t really affect my day, but it means a lot to somebody.”

The convenience of the blood drive and the fact that it will benefit an associate inspired Law Librarian Cindy Guyer to make a first-time donation as well.

“It’s an easy thing to do to help someone who needs it,” she said.

Raphael’s colleagues say they were delighted that students organized the event. Senior Law Librarian Hazel Lord praised the organizers as amazing, caring, “can-do” people.

USC Law staff member Cindy Guyer donates at the Feb. 7 drive

“It’s more than a gesture; it’s a wonderful thing to do,” said Associate Dean Albert Brecht. “Claudia is a very warm and thoughtful person who the students and others at the law school have grown to really appreciate, and we look forward to her full recovery.”

Raphael’s husband, Marc, is chronicling his wife’s story on a web site where visitors can view photos, sign a guestbook and read journal entries documenting her progress. He expressed his gratitude to those who supported the blood drive and have reached out to the couple during the past few months.

“The USC Law community has been wonderfully supportive of Claudia throughout this challenging time in her life,” Marc Raphael said. “All of the positive energy and heartfelt expressions of love have meant so much to her, and it has been a big part of her healing process. The blood drive organized by the USC Law students to honor Claudia and support the many patients who need blood was such a wonderful way for people to express just how much Claudia means to them.”

Click here to visit Claudia Raphael’s web site.