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Jessica
It saved my life
by Jessica
In march of 2011 I was having a normal day. Cleaning the yard playing with my child until i felt something inside of me cramp up and began to feel a small gush of something. I immediately ran inside and of course instantly sat on the toilet. I waited a few minutes but the blood just began to get stronger. My husband had me rush to the ER. At that time we only lived about 5 minutes driving from the Hospital closest to us. By the time those 5 minutes went by my entire lower body was saturated with blood. I walked into the ER crying and they immediately took me in. I waited a long time and was hemmoraging losing so much blood. They couldnt get it to stop. I remember lastly passing out and even the nurses were afraid I wasnt going to make it. I had to get 3 bags of blood. That literally saved my life that day. If it wasnt for amazing donors I would not be alive today to help others as those have helped me or spread the word of donation. I wouldnt be able to watch my amazing son grow up. Thank you so much for your donations.
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Stephanie
Thank you for saving my life
by Stephanie
I was 17 years old when I found out I was pregnant. I was young and scared, but to me I was destined to be a mommy. I had her in December of 2010 and I had a C-section because I was tiny and her head was big. Just to let you know im 4'11" so yes I'm small. Anyway, through the procedure I was losing a lot of blood, I felt like I wanted to pass out because my eyes kept going back. The nurses kept asking me if I was OK and I kept saying "yes I'm OK, just tired." After the procedure I went back to the nursery room and a couple of hours later the doctor came in the room and told me that I looked pale. I told him that I was very tired and he said that he was going to check my iron and see what was going on with me. A couple of hours later the doctor came in and told me that I was anemic, that I had lost a lot of blood. and they would have to give me two quarts of blood to save my life. He said that if I was in my 30's that I would of had a heart attack and probably would have died. After the blood was going insde my system for 2 hours I looked way better. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO SAVED MY LIFE, CAUSE IF IT WASNT FOR YOU, I WOULDNT BE HERE WITH MY LIL GIRL AND HUSBAND (who's her daddy). THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!
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TRACI
A Stranger Saved My Life
by TRACI
On August 21, 1996 I had my first daughter, Kristina. During delivery there were some complications (I’ll spare you the “gory” details); but the bottom line was I hemorrhaged to the point of being unconscious. I had lost so much blood that my body was unable to replenish the blood on its own. Kristina was fine thank goodness, but I was pretty bad. I was so weak from the blood loss that I literally could not move or take care of her.
Two days later I was transfused with two pints of blood before being taken to surgery, during which I hemorrhaged more and received another two pints. The surgery went fine, but a few years later I found out that the doctor told my family that I might not make it. I was in such shock afterwards that I literally do not remember the first two months of “Teen’s” life.
Thanks to a generous person I was able to receive the blood transfusions that literally saved my life.
Now I am asking you to spend one hour of your time to save someone’s life. Teen and I thank you in advance
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David
It's the "Gift of Life"...I know, because I've had it TWICE!
by David
I was severely injured at work in 1978 when I broke my back and was bleeding to death...it took 17 pints of blood to save me.
I'd donated a few times before this event, but it really inspired me to do more...to thank those who were there for me in my time of need...to try to be there for them in theirs...
Then, in 1995, I was scheduled for an elective back surgery, and had donated several pints in the autologous program. Following surgery, I had an emergency need for more blood, and lacking the time to get my own from storage, the doctors used another 18 pints...
So I owe my life not once, but twice to the generosity and gifts from other donors...that makes me proud to help out, too!
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Gina
"You shouldn't have made it"
by Gina
In April 2003, I went into the hospital for a scheduled c-section with my 5th baby. This pregnancy had it's own complications already with my baby being born 6 weeks before his due date. I had developed an antibody in my blood which proved to be more of a complication than we had ever thought it would be. During the surgery, the doctor said that there was a hole in my uterus and the placenta had attached itself to my bladder and other organs. I began to hemorage; the doctor couldn't stop the bleeding. He reccomended a hysterectomy to which we agreed in order to try to save my life. We were very sad that I would no longer be able to have any children. Because I had lost so much blood, they ordered some blood for me. Because of the antibody that I had developed somehwere along the line, my normal bloodtype Apos wouldn't work because of the antibody. This cut my odds down considerably. I lost 7 units of blood during this ordeal and they were only able to match 1 unit right away. I received one unit of blood. After my surgery was completed, the doctor came into the recovery room, looked at me with tears in his eyes and said "You shouldn't be alive, you shouldn't be here" That was when he told me that I lost so much blood and how short of a supply there was that matched my blood. I later received one more unit that they were able to find in another hospital 50 miles away.
I am so very grateful for those 2 units of blood that I did receive! I would encourage everyone to donate blood, you could save a new mother's life.
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Teri
Thank god for donors.
by Teri
I was hospitalized in early April for chronic migraines, seizures, nausea and vommiting. I had a stroke back on Oct of 2010 and I have to be on coumadin (blood thinner) to prevent another stroke. I was in the ICU and step down unit for 5 days, when they got me back on a regular floor I started vommting blood. One of the docs just casually asked me if I would accept a blood transfusion and I said yes. I really didnt think they were gonna go through with it but they did some bloodwork and about 30-45 minuts later the nurse was coming in with consent papers and a unit of blood. She said the bloodwork came back with some bad results. I dont know exactly but I know my coumadin level was also way too high. The fact that I was bleeding from my stomache and the blood thinner level being high was very dangerous, I could have bled out. They immediately started transfusing blood. It seemed like everytime she came in the room she had another unit of blood. They then went in my stomache and cauterized whatever was bleeding while continuing to transfuse blood into me. All in all I had about 5-7 units of blood. The ONLY reason I survived was the doctor jumping on the problem quickly, them stopping the bleeding quickly and all the blood transfusions. It could have been really bad but Im alive today and for that Im grateful to the donor and American Red Cross for supplying the blood to the hospital.
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Desma
Hysterectomy
by Desma
Hello, my name is Desma and all through my life I've had a heavy menstral cycle. Every month I would get sick and could not do nothing. All through 2011 I was dizzy, could not stand up, could not even walk from my living room to the bath room without feeling like I was going to pass out; so I went to the doctor for a regular check up, and knowing that I was over weight he was going to say that me being over weight was why I was feeling that way.However he took some blood and told me to weight to see what my blood test say. Well I needed a blood transfution. So on the 4th of July I had my first transfution.Well that was not it.It was just getting worst and worst. So i had to be rushed to the hospital on December 22nd and they performed an emergency hysterctomy and blood transfution. I recieved 6 pints of blood that day.I just want to thank every one who donates blood, because without you I would not be alive today! Thank You Very Much!!!!!
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Michelle
Giving blood really does save lives. It saved mine.
by Michelle
Two weeks after my beautiful baby girl was born, I had complications. While I was being treated at the hospital, the doctor came and told my husband in the waiting room that it was a "grave situation and she might not make it."
My husband was almost left without a wife and my little girl without a mother. The blood that I received that day saved my life. I wish I could personally thank each person who selflessly donated the blood I received. It really does saves lives. It saved mine.
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Danielle
Blood donors saved our baby's life!
by Danielle
Isabella was born at 32 weeks, profoundly anemic with a hemoglobin of 2.2. She had stopped moving and I knew something wrong. I went to the hospital and they quickly agreed with me that something was seriously wrong. She was born that morning, August 23, 2009 by emergency C section. She was pale..white as a ghost, actually. The doctors were gravely concerned since she had lost almost half of her blood volume due to a hemorrage in utero. However, as soon as they gave her blood....lots of it, and platelets, she stabilized and turned pink!! She is now a happy, healthy 2 year old and we could never thank the blood donors who saved her life!!!!
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lori
Grateful
by lori
A year ago, I was accidentally shot. I lost a lot of blood and had two surgeries, one which was 6 hrs. long. My blood cells did not regenerate on their own even though I was very healthy and in otherwise good physical condition. After a few days, the Dr. ordered 2 units of blood. I instantly felt better and went home the next day after a week in the hospital. I"m so grateful for the people who donated that blood, whoever they are. I've been waiting the required 12 months to give back, and today, I have an appointment to do just that.
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