Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
In Matt Hukill’s time working at the American Red Cross, he’s seen many donors come and go. But one day a particular donor caught his eye leaving the platelet donation area with a look of disappointment on her face.
That donor was Tatiana, and she had just been deferred from donating platelets because her hemoglobin was a tiny fraction below the requirement – 12.4 instead of 12.5. It was such a small difference, but Matt could see how much it meant to her to donate.
Since she looked like she needed cheering up, Matt decided to strike up a conversation with her. “I was instantly drawn to her kindness, intelligence, and passion for helping others,” he said. “As we talked, it became clear that we shared many of the same values and interests, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. By the time we finished that conversation, I knew I had to see her again, so I decided not to wait, and I invited her to dinner after work.”
A little more than one year later, Tatiana and Matt are now happily married, all thanks to that chance encounter at the Red Cross. They often joke that they fell in love by a fraction, but the truth is, it wasn't just that 0.1 difference that brought them together. “It was the Red Cross's mission of helping others that created the space for our connection to grow – right in the building where I've been working all these years!”
“We're both so incredibly grateful to the Red Cross for the life-changing work they do, and even more grateful that they unknowingly played matchmaker for us. Who knows, maybe our story will inspire someone else to donate – you never know who you might meet!”
They aren’t the only ones who have met donating blood, read JJ and Danielle’s love story. Ready to schedule your donation? Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Your one donation can positively impact the lives of more than one patient (and could be a great chance for a meet-cute like Matt and Tatiana)!