WESLACO – Local blood donation centers are at critical low levels and asking for help.

A Rio Grande Valley mother tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS her son is alive thanks to people who donated plasma.

Maria Fernandez explains her 13-year-old was diagnosed with the life-threatening disease leukemia.

"For a parent to hear those words, it was very surreal," she explains.

A year after his diagnosis, he has battled back and is now in great condition.

"I told my husband, you know what, we can't be selfish. We need to go and donate blood too because the blood was there for him to get it when he needed it,” explains Fernandez.

KRGV’s John Paul Barajas spoke with a marketing specialist to learn more about these low levels of blood supply.

Watch the video above for the full story.