Honoring Baby Mason through Blood Donation

By Ashley Peterson-DeLuca

Mason’s mom, Myra Belarde, describes him as a “very spunky, alert baby.” While his life was short, he brought joy to his family and community, who continues to honor him by giving back.

“He was a special boy. We hoped we’d have him longer,” describes Belarde.

Myra Belarde with Mason

Mason’s Journey

Mason Belarde had Trisomy 18, which doctors discovered when Belarde was 32 weeks pregnant. It’s a genetic condition and a life-limiting diagnosis – many do not live beyond a few weeks. But Mason Belarde lived for four months and was even able to leave the NICU and come for almost half of that time. His older sister, Amelia Belarde, loved to dote on him any time she had a chance.

Belarde knew from the beginning that “if he survived, a fifty-fifty chance, he’d have to have a lot of medical procedures.” This includes blood transfusions. Mason Belarde had his first surgery before he was even a day old. However, he didn’t need transfusions because of surgeries, it was needed to run blood work.

“When you only weigh four pounds, you don’t have a lot to give. They have to replace what was taken,” says Belarde.

Finding the Positive through O Positive

Belarde and Mason shared blood type, O-positive. Belarde is dedicated to giving blood every eight weeks. She says, “I wanted to give back what people selflessly gave to my son.”

Although she experienced light-headedness once when she gave blood as a student, she hasn’t had any incidents as an adult. It’s solidified her commitment to keep doing it.

Making an impact to honor Mason

Belarde also donates to prenatal care in her hometown of Waverly, Iowa, in honor of Mason Belarde as well as participates in pregnancy and infancy loss support groups to help other moms through their losses.

“Almost a quarter of pregnancies end in loss. All of us know women who have experienced a miscarriage. It gets minimized. In past generations, nobody talked about it,” explains Belarde.

She’s now used to talking about the loss of her own child and encourages others to not shy away.

“A lot of people are afraid to say something to grieving parents because they don’t want to hurt them by bringing it up,” says Belarde. “But when parents have lost their child, it’s always on our minds. You’re not bringing something new up.”

She adds: “Say something. We want our children to be remembered.”

Baby Mason

Because medical professionals, friends and family gave up their holidays to support their family, Belarde wants to give back on important holidays. For the last two Christmas holidays, they’ve brought home-baked cookies to local hospitals and hospices. The best part: they are hand-decorated by Belarde’s other two children. She says, “Their cookies always have a ton of sprinkles.”

You can make an impact too

To bring life-saving joy and support to others going through their medical journeys, consider giving blood. Visit redcrossblood.org to find a blood drive near you.