In the summer of 2023, I needed 14 surgeries to treat a rare condition I’ve dealt with since childhood. I faced complications with healing and spent 47 days bedridden while my top-notch medical team at Mayo Clinic treated me. It was a long, frightening stretch, and I’m grateful for the care they gave me through it.
During that time, I became very anemic and needed three separate blood transfusions. I knew my doctors were doing everything they could for me. What I hadn’t thought much about before then was that part of my care depended on people outside the hospital: strangers who had taken the time to donate blood.
My blood type is O-negative. O-negative red blood cells can be given to people of any blood type, which makes them especially valuable in emergencies when there may be no time to confirm a patient’s type.
But when I needed red blood cells, I could receive only O-negative blood. According to the American Red Cross, only about 7% of people have O-negative blood. That means there are fewer potential donors for someone like me, even as their blood is in high demand for patients of every blood type.
I’ve thought about those donors often since then. They don’t know my name or what that summer was like for me. They may have gone to a blood drive on an ordinary day, given a donation, and gone right back to work or home. For me, their generosity became part of the reason I could get through an extraordinary and difficult time.
That’s why I’m sharing this ahead of Blossom Rock’s blood drive with Vitalant. Arizona hospitals need approximately 700 blood donations every day, and one donation can help more than one patient. You don’t have to be O-negative to make a difference. People with many different blood types need transfusions, and every donor helps keep blood available when it’s needed.
If you’re able to donate, please consider joining us Wednesday, Sep. 30, from 5–8 p.m. at The Dutch. Reserve an appointment with Vitalant for the best experience. Walk-ins are welcome, too.
To the people whose donations helped me: I wish I could thank you in person. Since I can’t, I hope sharing my story helps someone else decide to roll up their sleeve.
Susanne Campbell
Communications Manager, Blossom Rock