Why Should I Donate Blood?

Laurence Hammond is the head Baseball Coach at Washington High School. The father of five knows the importance of blood donations and has coached his players to give back to the community by donating blood. As a blood donor, Laurence realizes the impact Sickle Cell Disease on the black and brown communities. Sickle Cell Disease is a progressive and unpredictable genetic disorder that affects red blood cells. Some patients with Sickle Cell require numerous blood transfusions and sometimes several units at a time.

Karlie Phillips is a high school student at Jimtown High School. We met Karlie when she was just five years old and had her picture on the back of one of our transportation trucks. In May of 2023, she had her 4th open heart surgery due to Bartonella Endocarditis (Cat Scratch Disease). At that time she had her aortic and pulmonary valves replaced due to the infection. During her stay in the hospital and her surgery, Karlie received 15 units of red blood cells, 8 units of platelets and 24 units of plasma. Her third open heart surgery was delayed a total of five times due to typing and blood shortages. Donate blood so that people like Karlie can have treatment when it’s needed.

Michael Molnar is both a blood donor and blood recipient.  In July of 2019, he was tubing with his family and friends on a local lake. As he was climbing the ladder on the back of the boat, it was accidentally bumped into reverse and in an instant, Michael was caught up in the propeller of the boat, slashing his leg and torso areas. He was flown by a MedFlight helicopter to Memorial Hospital South Bend where he needed 11 units of blood in order to save his life that evening. Before surgery number 6, he and his wife pledged that they would start donating blood and promote blood donation once he got released from the hospital.  He and his wife now host an annual blood drive and give regularly. In total, Michael needed 19 units of blood. He knows first-hand the truth of the statement, “Blood Donors Save Lives.”

If you donate blood one of our locations, Phlebotomist Annie Prince might draw your blood. She has worked at South Bend Medical Foundation putting donors at ease for over 10 years, but three years ago, she found herself as a recipient of those blood units she had previously collected. Battling colon cancer had given Annie a new perspective on the lifesaving units she had collected over the years. Annie survived her battle with cancer and loves to spend time with her son and grandson.

Blood donor Shelby Morrisey began donating blood at the age of 83 when her granddaughter-in-law found out she had stage 5 Kidney disease. At her age, the doctor wouldn’t allow her to go through testing to donate her kidney, but felt like there was something she needed to do and donating blood was just the thing. Shelby wishes she would have donated blood earlier in life and hopes that through her journey as a blood donor, she can help spread Nga’s story as she searches for a Kidney. If you are type O blood and want to learn more about donating a kidney visit https://iuhealth.org/find-medical-services/living-kidney-donation.

Terrence Szczechowski successfully battled Leukemia at the age of five. About 23 years later, he was with family and wasn’t feeling well. Within a 24-hour span, he was in the ER and battling sepsis, strep pneumonia, sinus infection and multi-organ failure. In December of 2019, he underwent surgery to amputate both legs below the knee. “Without blood donors I might not be here today and for that, I thank you. I am most thankful for life because with life I get to see my daughter, my family and my friends,” said Terry. Today, Terry enjoys spending time with his daughter, Gracie, and the rest of his family. During his time in the hospital, his friends and family referred to him as Mullet Strong… he remains Mullet Strong today.

Stephanie Lancione and her husband John received a phone call in late December of 2014 from John’s brother-in-law. A car accident had claimed the lives of John’s parents and seriously injured his sister and nephew who were riding in the back seat of the car. In an instant, everything changed for the families as they concentrated on supporting the family as they recovered, which they did. “We understand how fragile life is and that blood banks save lives,” said Stephanie. Her father-in-law was an avid donor and following the accident, they hosted a blood drive in his honor. “It’s because of him that I try and donate when I can.”

Platelet’s Matter! And Ron Bondurant knows that is true. About fourteen years ago, his mother was diagnosed with leukemia. She received platelets throughout the year she battled the disease and Ron was thankful for the extended time with her. He now donates platelet’s in her honor. For more information about Apheresis Platelet donation click here.