34 transfusions and counting: Ahwatukee toddler spotlights needs for blood donations

The gift of life is sometimes hard to come by. One Valley family says blood donations are the only things keeping their daughter alive, and right now the supply is running low.

At the United Blood Services, there's currently a one day's supply of the universal donor 'O negative' blood type, cutting it very close for people who rely on donations to live, like Adelyn Troutman. 

At 2-and-a-half years old, Adelyn is a very normal, healthy little girl.

"She likes to paint, she likes to get dirty," says her father, Matt Troutman.

Normal except for one thing, her body cannot make any of its own red blood cells. 

"She gets very tired and pale, cranky, she just doesn't feel good," said her mother Kami Troutman. 

Adelyn was born with this condition. There is no cure. Every four weeks she needs a blood transfusion. 

"It's pretty insane because she's had 34 to date and she's only 2 years old," said Matt. 

It'll be like that for the rest of her life. She's already gotten used to the hospital visits. 

"Unfortunately she is, we go so often she kind of knows the routine," said Kami.

Each time they go, her parents hope there will be enough blood for their daughter.