Thousands await blood donation daily during historic blood donation decline
By Briana Phillips, Red Cross volunteer
Charley has
been battling leukemia since her diagnosis in August 2021 when she was 6 months
old. Sarah Chance, Charley’s mother, noticed that around the same time Charley
started daycare, she was constantly sick. Charley’s doctors assured Sarah that
it was just a virus and would go away as Charley got acclimated to the daycare
environment. However, her symptoms continued. After some more tests, she was
eventually diagnosed with leukemia.
Ever since
her diagnosis, Charley has been in and out of the hospital frequently for
chemotherapy treatments and receiving several blood transfusions. She had been
doing well until recently she started vomiting blood for four days in a row.
Charley’s doctors recommended Charley have platelet transfusion, but the blood
supply at the hospital was very scarce. “They said that there were only 9 bags
left between the adult and children's hospitals,” Sarah recalled. “They had to
prioritize those that were actively bleeding, so Charley would have to wait to
get a transfusion.”
Charley’s
condition did not improve, and she continued to vomit blood. Sarah stated that
she’ll never forget that stressful day. “I had no idea if Charley was going to
get the help she needed,” she said. “It opened my eyes to the great need to
give blood so it’s available when others desperately need it. You just don’t
think about the scarcity until it happens right in front of you.”
Charley was
moved up on the priority list as she continued to worsen and was given the
platelet transfusion that she needed to recover. But that day left an
impression on Sarah.
“Charley’s
situation has inspired me not only to donate blood, but to also encourage
others to give blood as well,” Sarah said. To help increase blood donations,
the family plans to host two blood drives with Charley’s daycare and Vanderbilt
in the coming months. “My hope is for something positive to come out of
Charley’s illness and to help other families who might be struggling with a
similar situation. Having these blood drives will hopefully bring about
something good from all of this.”
Charley is
almost a year old and is recovering from a recent stem cell transplant. Her
3-year-old brother, Aidan, was her donor match, which is very rare. The Chance
family is hopeful that Charley will make full recovery. If you’d like to follow
Charley’s journey, please visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CharleyStrong2/.
Like
so many other critical patients, Charley could not have survived this last year
without blood donations. The process to give is simple. Blood donors of all blood types –
especially type O − are urged to make an appointment
now to give in the weeks ahead.
Volunteers needed
In addition to blood donors, the Red Cross also needs the help of
volunteers to support critical blood collections across the country. Blood
drive volunteers play an important role by greeting, registering, answering
questions, and providing information to blood donors throughout the donation
process. Blood transportation specialists are especially needed in the
Nashville Area Chapter. These volunteers provide a critical link between blood
donors and blood recipients by delivering blood to hospitals in communities
across the country. To volunteer to support the Red Cross blood collections,
visit RedCross.org/VolunteerToday.
Blood drive safety
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest
standards of safety and infection control, and additional
precautions – including face masks
for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented
to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to
arriving at the drive.
Save
time during donation
Donors can
also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With
RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history
questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer.
To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass
or use the Red
Cross Blood Donor App.
To donate
blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two
other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who
are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by
state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be
eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age
and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.
Health insights for donors
At
a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is
screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African
American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will
provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross
identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell
disease who require trait-negative blood. Blood transfusion is an essential
treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from
individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to
help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results,
if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App
and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and
provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's
blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian
aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross
is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity
of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please
visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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