More Birthdays, More Moments to Shine
Another birthday, another reason to celebrate the power of blood donation! Marissa celebrated her 12th birthday last week by hosting her annual blood drive, a milestone made possible in part by blood donors. Marissa also celebrated her birthday by competing in All-State choir over the weekend!
Diagnosed with leukemia at just two years old, Marissa relied on blood transfusions throughout her treatment, giving her the chance to grow up, discover her love of singing and performing, and make so many memories along the way.
We've had the chance to feature Marissa and her family twice over the years for videos: once in 2020 and again just last year.
We're grateful to Marissa and her family for sharing their story and to everyone who came out to celebrate. Here's to more birthdays and more moments to shine!
A Birthday Celebration of Giving
Some people leave a lasting impression everywhere they go. Russ Goering was one of them. Russ was a familiar, friendly face in the Ottumwa community, known for his kindness, quick conversations, and willingness to support the causes that mattered to him.
A veteran and longtime VA employee, Russ also was a dedicated blood donor who gave whenever he could. After he retired from the VA, Russ' wife, Kim, told him about a job opening with us in Ottumwa as a driver, and he carried on his lifesaving work with us.
Students Experience Mixed Reality
Saving lives got a virtual upgrade at Valley Park High School.
Students in Valley Park, Missouri, stepped up to give blood, and many did it with the help of our mixed reality headsets. The immersive technology is designed to distract donors who may feel nervous, giving them something to focus on while they give.
National Honors Society students helped organize the drive last Friday and went above and beyond for donors with snacks and beverages donated from local businesses as well as interactive decorations and movies to keep donors entertained.
“The donors can still see everything going on, but it allows them to escape just a little bit and distract them from the donation process,” said Chad Sabin, Community Development Advocate. “We hear sometimes that people don't like to give blood because they have a fear of needles or they're just anxious about the process, so our goal here is to make them feel more at ease.”
Honoring Service and Sacrifice on Veterans Day 2026
We owe our Veterans so much. This week on Veterans Day, we joined the entire country in saluting the commitment and sacrifice of those who've served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The field of transfusion medicine has been transformed by advances in military medicine. Many of the most significant developments in blood collection, testing, shipment and storage have come about in relation to treating patients who suffered wounds on the battlefield. Learn more about Military Medicine and Early Innovation in Blood Banking on our blog!
And so many of our most dedicated blood donors tell us their first experience as a blood donation took place while serving in the military. Alan Grimme is a frequent donor who recalls his first donation while on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. "I was stationed in Okinawa and of course you had guys coming back from Vietnam," says Grimme of his first opportunity to give blood. "I believe they had a blood drive on base, which prompted me give for the first time. I would have been 20 years old at the time." He has now made 77 lifetime donations, and gave for the 75th time on his 75th birthday earlier this year.
Marking One Year Here the Best Way
Teresa Tran, Donor Relations Account Manager, marked her one-year work anniversary the best way she knew how: by rolling up her sleeve at our Springfield donor center.
Her story started well before she joined the team. As an Associate Board member, Teresa volunteered her time and energy to support our mission and the communities we serve. She saw firsthand how much a single donation can mean to patients and families. When the chance came to turn that passion into a career, she took it.
Today, Teresa works with donors and community partners to keep the blood supply strong. Her days are spent connecting people with the opportunity to give. A year later, she is still one of those people herself.