The Faces of Donation
Imagine yourself suddenly in need of emergency medical treatment. You’re rushed to the hospital and require a major blood transfusion. This scenario happens every day and to people just like you. In fact, most people will require blood at some point in their lives. Here are just a few real-life stories of how donating makes all the difference.
Maddalena was born with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, disseminated intravascular coagulation, kidney and liver failure, and possible brain damage. She was kept in the hospital for over 40 days, experiencing continuous blood transfusions to keep her stable. Without the generosity of blood donations, Maddalena wouldn’t have survived.
Six years ago, Rachel was involved in a car crash so horrific, her doctors told her mother to say goodbye. It took 19 pints of blood—almost two times the amount in a person’s body—and multiple procedures to help her get back on her feet and walking again.
Bahar was an avid blood donor before undergoing an eight-hour cancer surgery where she found herself on the receiving end. The steady and available blood supply ensured she could recover after the operation.
Shyala was born with sickle cell disease and began experiencing complications when she was just two years old. Now, as an adult, Shyala receives a blood transfusion every five weeks to reduce pain and live a fulfilling life as a mother and advocate, something that would not be possible without blood donations.
Arielle and Charlie’s son Christian needed three intrauterine blood transfusions while he was still in the womb and six more after he was born. Thanks to donors all over the country, Christian is growing up healthy and happy with his family.
After the birth of her second child, Stephanie was clinically dead for 37 seconds and required over 60 units of blood that matched with her rare blood type.
Doctors performed an emergency c-section after an ultrasound showed Sophia’s daughter Charlotte suffered from a brain bleed. Charlotte’s extremely low platelet count confirmed that she suffered from a disease called Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia. Thanks to platelet donations, doctors carried out an emergency platelet transfusion to stop the bleeding and save Charlottes life.
“I think it’s absolutely important that we support our local communities with blood donations. When you donate blood, you are helping save lives in so many ways. The Blood Science Foundation’s support for research has really been instrumental to major projects that are improving the lives of our patients.”
Dr. Mark Gladwin is the chair of the Department of Medicine at UPMC in the University of Pittsburgh. He oversees transfusion research regarding blood diseases and ways to improve blood’s effectiveness and shelf life. The research he supervises affirms the importance of blood to our health care ecosystem. Without the generous funding from Blood Science Foundation, the advancements they’re working towards wouldn’t be possible.
When you support Blood Science Foundation, you are making stories like these come true.
