PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPE COD HEALTHCARE
Cape Cod Healthcare President and CEO Michael Lauf , center, presents a plaque naming the Cape Cod Hosptial Blood Donor Center as the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Blood Donor Center to Nicholas’ father, Stephen Xiarhos, right, and his brother Alex Xiarhos, left, at a ceremony at Cape Cod Hospital.
HYANNIS – The blood donor center at Cape Cod Hostpital has been named after Nicholas Xiarhos, a Yarmouth resident who was killed during combat in Afghanistan.
The Xiarhos family has held a blood drive for Cape Cod Healthcare in Nick’s memory every year since his death in 2009.
“To be born at Cape Cod Hospital. To have these blood drives every year in his memory and to be so successful in getting the blood that saves lives, it was really something that we all thought was special,” Said Stephen Xiarhos, Nick’s father and Yarmouth deputy police chief.
Xiarhos said it felt powerful and bittersweet when he found out the blood donor center would be named after his son but was something the family was very proud of.
Blood donation is meaningful to the Xiarhos family because Nick was unable to be kept alive due to a lack of blood.
“They literally called in Marines and were drawing blood from their arms to help save him,” Stephen said.
Stephen said his family has tried the best they can to help those in need on Cape Cod.
“Collecting blood, especially blood that will save lives of fellow Cape Codders, would be something that Nick would want to do,” Stephen said. “It’s a true honor for our family to team up with Cape Cod Healthcare and create something that will always be there and we’ll always do everything we can to give the gift of life in Nick’s memory and all the others that have served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Michael Lauf, the president and CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare, said naming the blood donor center after Nick and honoring the memorial blood drive was just the right thing to do.
“Protecting our country is such a selfless act and so is giving blood,” Lauf said. “We have a need for blood every single minute of the day.”
Lauf said having a quality blood supply is so important and has been a focus of Cape Cod Healthcare over the last few years.
“It was a small way for us to recognize the incredible sacrifice Nicholas made and how he is still living today by raising awareness of the vital need to give blood to ensure that community organizations like ours has a robust supply,” Lauf said.
This year’s blood drive in memory of Nick is February 12 at Yarmouth Police Headquarters from noon to 6 p.m.
All blood collected on the Cape stays on Cape Cod.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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