On April 18, Zacarius is scheduled to undergo surgery, at University of California, San Francisco medical facilities, for a heart valve replacement to repair a condition with which he was born. His blood type is AB positive which, his uncle says, is extremely rare — only 4 percent of the population has that blood type.
People who have the type are registered with a medical network and contacted in case of an emergency like this, said Larry Gurnett, but that doesn’t solve the problem.
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To help, donors do not need to make an appointment, but simply walk into the UCSF facility at 400 Parnassus Ave., in Room MU09 of the Millberry Union building between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Six units of blood are needed for the procedure.
Time is of the essence, said Gurnett: Doctors have told him the blood must be fresh but must be at the hospital no later than Friday, April 4.
For information, contact the Gurnetts at 726-5880 or (650) 766-5817.
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