“Hi, my name is Allie. I am 10 years old. I was 5 years old when I had my bone marrow transplant. I needed to live. The only way I could live was to get the blood and medications. And I lived. I want all the people in the world to know that you shouldn’t let people die. I have had lots of needle sticks in my life. I would do it to save someone’s life. Thank you to all the people who donated blood to help save my life. I tell God thank you in my prayers. Be a lifesaver. Donate your blood and people will help you, too.”

Allie

Alexandria has sickle cell anemia, a genetic blood disease that distorts her red cells into sickle shapes, blocking blood flow and causing severe pain in her legs, feet, arms, and stomach. She will need blood transfusions all her life.

Alexandria

Several blood transfusions helped Brandon survive a heart transplant.

“Thank you just sounds like such an inadequate word. When you donate, that’s our most valuable, precious resource, life.”

Shawn, Brandon’s Dad

Born four months premature, Maddie Jo spent her first four months in the Intensive Care Nursery - kept alive with skilled medical care, IV nutrients, and five matchbook-sized, “tot” bags of O-negative blood. “It really hits home for me - to think that she could have a chance to live a normal life because people found the time to come and give blood… I couldn’t imagine someone else turning around and not having the same thing I did.”

Jenessa, Maddie’s Mom

Multiple transfusions of red cells and plasma helped 28-year old Alisha Loy survive three surgeries during her two-month hospitalization. What started as a ruptured appendix, progressed into multiple, complex pelvic abscesses, and caused a host of life-threatening complications that wreaked havoc on her body.

Alisha spent 12 days in the ICU and lost over 20 pounds, fighting infection and severe dehydration. When her white cell counts escalated, and jugular and subclavian blood clots formed before her second emergency surgery, she received a transfusion of red cells. Within two weeks of this surgery, she developed a third abscess. Since retention sutures had been sewn through her abdominal tendons and muscles during the first two surgeries, this last abscess had to be removed with a CT guided drain. She was taking blood thinners because of the clots, so to avoid bleeding out during this procedure, she received two bags of plasma and vitamin K to thicken her blood. Almost two years later, Alisha is still gaining back her strength, but she has made great progress."

Because of the generosity of people donating blood, I am here today. I received a blood transfusion and plasma, that without both, I would not be here to share my story."

Alisha