From near-death experience to lifesaver, Thiele makes blood donation a priority

Blood may be thicker than water. It's the fluid of life, an essential force providing a constant flow of resources and creating energy.

For Jesse Thiele, son of Jim and Leenda, the constant flow slowed to a trickle on a fateful September day in 2016.

Thiele, then a fifth-grade student, was at home in Clearwater on Sept. 29, working on a math worksheet, alongside older brothers Eli and Alex.

Alex and Jesse took a break, which turned into a wrestling match.

"I still had a pencil in my hand," Jesse said.

The wrestling match progressed toward the wall.

"The pencil (tip) was facing me," he added.

A...