Almost four months ago, Industrial Technology Professor Anthony Blakeney and his wife, Michelle, were blessed with two fraternal twin boys, Andrew and Anthony. Yet, it has been a tough road after the boys were born two months premature, each weighing around two pounds.
Today, Andrew and Anthony both weigh around seven pounds, in which their father now calls them “his little chunky monkeys.” Instead of keeping up a constant residence at the North Oaks Hospital, they are home and have checkups every other week. Recently, both boys have been diagnosed with colic, caused by the feeding tubes that were placed in the boys mouths after their birth. When diagnosed with colic, a baby cries or screams frequently and for very long periods of time. Since they were born premature, the feeding tubes were necessary, but it left problems with the sphincter going into their stomach, leading to excessive reflux. The doctors believe that the reflux is one of the main reasons why they are having problems with colic and why they are screaming every night. This has led to many sleepless nights in the Blakeney household.
During the family’s difficult time, The Blood Center has been a tremendous help. The first blood drive took place on Southeastern’s campus and involved one blood bus in which over 65 people donated that day alone. On the second trip to campus, the center sent two blood buses and over 100 people donated. These past two blood drives were not the only times available to donate to the Blakeney twins, Andrew and Anthony.
“As I was told, it was a record for The Blood Center, for one drive that was kind of at last second,” said Blakeney. “It was really amazing to see the line of people I had outside the bus last year. The blood workers for The Blood Center were in awe to see that many people. I even had to bring chairs over from the union so people could sit outside the bus while they were waiting.”
At any time, donors could go to any official Blood Center and request that their blood donation go specifically to the Blakeney twins in Ponchatoula, La. More blood buses are scheduled to come to Southeastern’s campus this semester. The dates right now are unknown, but look out for notices around campus or the blood buses parked in front of Sims Memorial Library. The Southeastern family stepped up yet again to help an employee’s family, just as they had for Angela Jones. A number of Southeastern’s organizations stepped up including Kappa Sigma, who held a basketball tournament especially for the Blakeney family and raised thousands of dollars.
“God bless yall!” said Blakeney. “I don’t know how to thank people; I don’t know how to express that gratitude because I have never asked for help before. Now I am begging for help.”
To keep a continuous update on status’ and pictures of both Andrew and Anthony Blakeney, go to their page on www.facebook.com and search for “Anthony and Andrew Blakeney.” Also, to find more information and upcoming locations for the blood vans in the Hammond area, call 504-524-1322.