UPDATE: Supporters Holding Blood Drive in Moorestown Teen's Honor

UPDATE: Due to an overwhelming response, the Friends of Victoria Palko blood drive has been moved to Strive Physical Therapy (740 Marne Highway, #203, Moorestown).

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Victoria Palko is on the road to recovery, and her supporters want to honor the young woman’s brave battle with illness by holding a blood drive next month in her name.

Palko, a 19-year-old Moorestown High School graduate, was stricken with an extremely rare case of pneumonia in December—doctors told the family it was akin to being struck by lightning—that had her fighting for her life for several weeks.

According to her father, Pete Palko, the teen’s condition has greatly improved, though she remains in Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia.

“According to Victoria’s doctors, she continues to make huge positive improvements on a daily basis,” he wrote in an email. “In recent days, she has been continuing to work hard on weaning off her ventilator that has supported her for the last 40 days and her lungs continue to heal, improve and get stronger each day. She recently had her final two chest tubes removed and is continuing with physical therapy to get her body stronger. Her docs are hopeful that she could possibly be out of ICU within a week and moved to a regular hospital room.”

A group of supporters have organized a blood drive in Victoria’s honor for Saturday, Feb. 1. The blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Strive Physical Therapy (740 Marne Highway, #203, Moorestown). Organizers hope to collect 100 pints during the drive.

Go online to schedule an appointment to give blood on Feb. 1, or call Lori Burris at 609-273-4217. Bring a photo ID, license number or social security number with you.

To read more about Victoria, visit the family’s Facebook page “Well Wishes for Victoria Palko.”