2023 Hero for Babies Donor Rewards

Babies needing transfusions as part of their medical care should only receive blood from donors who have not been exposed to CMV.

CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is a flu-like virus that most adults are exposed to at some point in their lives.

 

  • CMV is generally harmless to adults, but can be fatal to babies. As with other viruses, once someone has had CMV, their body retains the antibodies.
  • Regular testing is conducted on blood donations to check for CMV antibodies. The CMV virus is present in up to 85 percent of adults by age 40 – making CMV negative status a big deal.
  • The American Red Cross sends pediatric-specific blood products to hospitals throughout the country every day.
  • Since only a small number of donors are able to meet this very specific medical need, we ask eligible CMV negative donors to answer the call to give blood on a consistent basis.

 

Give blood two or more times in 2023 and receive one of the following rewards:

2 Donations

retractable lantern

Retractable Lantern

3 Donations

gift card

$10 Gift Card

4+ Donations

Collapsible Tote

Collapsible Tote

How it works:

We will track your 2023 donations and send you updates throughout the year. Power Red donations will count as two donations. In January 2024, you'll receive communication with instructions on how to claim your gift.* Be sure your email address is correct in your redcrossblood.org profile.

Schedule your appointment today in the Blood Donor App or on redcrossblood.org

Why Your Donations Matter. Meet Braden Healey.

A photo collage. Photo 1 is of survivor Braden shortly after birth. Photo 2 is of survivor Braden many years later and his father Mike hiking Holy Jim Trail

Born at 28 weeks, Braden Healey was a preemie weighing just 3 pounds. He arrived by emergency cesarean section after a traumatic pregnancy. Following delivery, Braden immediately needed blood.

“He received blood from the Red Cross,” said Mike, Braden’s father. “I needed to pay it back with my own blood. I gave blood the next day and have done it 56 times since then.”

After becoming a donor, Mike found out he is Cytomegalovirus (CMV) negative. His blood can go to babies who are in the neonatal intensive care unit—just like Braden years ago. He shared, “I feel this is now my calling.”

Braden spent the first 49 days of his life in the NICU. But now, he’s a strong and healthy boy.

Premature babies all over the country need this very special type of blood. Thank you for being a loyal blood donor—your donation could help a patient just like Braden.