ARDMORE -- One mother says she has all she wants for Christmas. Her soldier son is home safe and sound. She says this season of celebration could have been one of mourning for her family. Her son could have been at Fort Hood November 5th - the day of the mass shooting - but was not. Now she’s doing something to give back. Shelby Levins reports.

Joy Buchanan says Wednesday afternoon is the last time she'll have to look at pictures to see her son. Her soldier will be home in person just in time for Christmas.

"When he stepped off that plane December 11th and they put him before me, all I could think is ‘this is my baby and he doesn't even look like a baby anymore, he's such a handsome man.’” Joy explained.

For the past couple weeks David Buchanan has been completing his out-processing, after serving overseas in Iraq for a year. The young man was scheduled to arrive at Foot Hood at the beginning of November - the very time of the mass shooting.

"When I saw the list of names going up and heard how many were wounded or killed, all I could think in my mind is I could have been the parent to that solider.” Joy said.

Joy knew she had to do something to help, so she donated blood. But she wanted to do more. With the help of IBC Bank and the Southern Oklahoma Blood Institute she's now organizing a local blood drive.

"At the same time that our military is out fighting for our freedom, we have donors here every day that fight for patients lives so both the military and our blood donors need our gratitude and our thanks,” SOBI Director Susan Crews explained.

Crews says donations are down, and the holidays are always a season of need, so this blood drive comes at a critical time.

"I want the Oklahoma Blood Institute to say ‘Yeah Ardmore - the blood bank is full!’ And just have a chance for all of us to interact on a community level and in honor of all the troops,” Joy said.

The blood drive is scheduled for December 28th, in the IBC Bank parking lot on Broadway. The bloodmobile will be there from 1pm – 6pm. If you would like to sign up ahead of time – contact Joy Buchanan at IBC Bank – 580-223-0345 x 3.