Hayward community encouraged to pay it forward in honor of local teen seriously injured in watercraft accident
HAYWARD, Wis. — Last July, the unimaginable happened when 15-year-old Abby Droessler was involved in a jet ski accident resulting in a two-inch laceration to her upper thigh. Family members were able to get Abby to shore where she received emergency medical treatment before being taken by ambulance to the local hospital. Severe weather prevented air ambulance transport, so Abby was rushed to Duluth, Minnesota, by ground ambulance. Losing blood rapidly, Abby owes her life to the fact that there was access to enough blood during the 90-minute ambulance trip in the storm.
Upon arrival in Duluth, Abby underwent her first surgery. Surgeons repaired two severed veins and discovered that she also damaged her femoral artery. Abby received 13 units of blood and plasma the first night and additional blood transfusions during the seven days she spend in the intensive care unit.
Eight surgeries were needed to repair the trauma on Abby’s leg and she has received blood and plasma throughout her treatments.
Abby is an extremely ambitious young lady. She is a strong, healthy athlete who enjoys riding and showing her horses, track, volleyball and hunting. She is involved in 4H horse projects and volunteers for church and community events. Today, she is getting back to some of the activities she loves. It will be a long recovery for Abby, but she is grateful to be progressing and healing every day.
To help pay it forward, Abby’s family is hosting a blood drive in her honor to help others that need lifesaving blood.
Donate Blood in Honor of Abby Droessler
Thursday, Dec. 8, from 1-7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
10586 N. Dakota Ave.
To make an appointment to donate, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
“People believe that something like this could never happen to them, said Abby’s parents, Meghan and Ben Droessler. “We certainly never thought that Abby, a healthy, active teenager, would ever be the one in need of blood. We think it’s important for people that are healthy to take the initiative to share that gift of good health by giving back to those that need it. Someday you just might find yourself in the position to need blood,” they added.
It’s the blood products on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency. When seconds matter, having a readily available blood supply is critical to trauma patient care. When there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type, such as in trauma situations, type O negative blood and type AB plasma are what emergency personnel reach for because they can be given to patients with any blood type.
“We would like to stress how thankful we are that our small community hospital had blood here for Abby to receive,” said her mother. “We will be the first to say that we take that for granted.”
The Hayward community is encouraged to make an appointment for the Dec. 8-9 blood drive to help ensure a sufficient blood supply. A seasonal decline in donations often occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. However, patients don’t get a holiday vacation from needing lifesaving transfusions. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification 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 have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports 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 perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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