I would not be here to celebrate Asha’s 1st birthday without blood donation.
Asha was born on January 3, 2022 in the middle of a snow storm and the Omicron surge. We worried about our doctors making it to the hospital in the snow and our newborn contracting covid–and about having enough blood for my delivery.
Asha was also born during the worst national blood shortage in over a decade. Early in the third trimester of my pregnancy, I was diagnosed with placenta accreta, a condition that carries a high risk of hemorrhage during late pregnancy and delivery. Over 90% of gestating parents diagnosed with placenta accreta need donor blood. My blood transfusion gave my doctors the time they needed to perform a hysterectomy to safely deliver my placenta. The generosity of anonymous donors saved my life and gave me the gift of time.
If you are moved by our story, please consider donating your blood to give the same gift to another family.
Challenge your friends (or anyone for that matter) to a friendly competition! Who will win the battle to do the most social good for your community?
Put your virtual blood drive campaign against one or even multiple other campaigns to see who can recruit more blood donors for the American Red Cross.
