READFIELD -- Bryton Maxim is honored that a local blood drive is being held in his name.

The National Honor Society at Maranacook holds two blood drives a year.

This time around, the drive is dedicated to the 14-year-old Maranacook Community High School freshman who received a new heart over the summer.

The blood drive will be on Wednesday from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at the high school music room.

Bryton said blood transfusions kept him alive during his time at the Boston Children's Hospital.

"I think it's very nice that they're doing this to help other people," said Bryton, who is looking forward to starting back at school in January. "It saved my life, so it's a good idea."

Bryton said months leading up to the heart transplant on July 16 -- a 12-hour procedure -- was sort of scary, but he got through it and is doing very well.

"That's the good part," he said.

Paula Weisberger, an English teacher and adviser to the honor society, said she is happy to dedicate the blood drive to Bryton to help get the message out about the importance of blood.

"One heart transplant takes all the blood we raise in one drive," Weisberger said Wednesday.

"Our goal this time is 70 pints. We usually get around 60. And we're hoping to get a lot of first-time blood donors. The school is a safe, comfortable place for first-timers to do it with their friends, if they're a little bit nervous."

Terri Maxim, 55, of Readfield and her husband, Everett, a mail carrier, adopted Bryton at age 6. Born with two major arteries -- the pulmonary and aorta -- on the wrong side of his heart, doctors have tried different medications and procedures to keep his health stable.

In December 2005, his condition worsened and he was referred to the Boston Children's Hospital for treatment.

He came home after the last of several procedures on Oct. 5, 2007, but he never recovered.

In January, he was diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure and severe ventricular dysfunction. Eventually, he was put on the heart transplant recipient list.

"On May 5, in the hospital he collapsed and then they put him high on the list," his adoptive mother said.

"He wasn't doing well, so they determined he needed intensive care and he went into the cardiac care unit on a ventilator. It was bad from June 16 to July 16. He had four different surgeries to remove blood clots so big they wrapped around his heart.

It was one transfusion after another, a daily occurrence because he was losing so much blood. Then on July 15 at 8:25 p.m., we got the call there was a donor."

Kate Hill, a speech therapist who worked with Bryton in middle school, came up with the idea of dedicating the blood drive to her former student.

Hill, a regular blood donor, said she felt it important to recognize Bryton's transplant survival with this blood drive because donor blood is what kept him alive while he waited for his new heart.

She said Bryton is a courageous student who has an unshakable spirit and zest for life.

"He has been struggling with his heart disorder since he was born and never let it slow him down," Hill said. "I felt that his peers at the high school should be made aware of the connection between their annual blood drives and real people in the community that they are helping."

Maxim stayed in Boston while her son was in the hospital. It was tough being away from her other special needs children.

She and her husband, who have four grown children of their own, adopted five children with disabilities including autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and limb loss, a child with shorter arms and legs. They range in age from 6 to 14.

She said the blood drive is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community. Maxim said she and her family will be first in line.

"When he needed a transfusion, the blood was there," she said. "We want to do this blood drive for other people so it's there for them like it was for Bryton."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com