Lifeblood Lifestories

Trace Barnett

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:16:10 +0000

Trace Barnett

Five years ago, the worst day of my life occurred. That is the day that we lost our second son Casey, and I came very close to losing my wife. When the doctor came to me to let me know that our son had died, he informed me that they were doing everything they could to save my wife. After the delivery she was hemorrhaging and they were having trouble controlling the blood loss. This is something I hope no one ever has to hear.

Cindy received six units of blood and that helped to save her life.

If people did not take time to donate blood, it is possible that incidents like ours would have a different outcome. Fortunately, we both donate blood and the needed blood was on hand. It only takes a few minutes of your time- isn’t a few minutes worth it when it comes to saving someone’s life? Like they say, “the life you save could be yours”. Please take a few minutes of your time and donate blood.

Trace Barnett

Lieutenant, Bartlett Fire Department

Carolyn Gruner

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:12:34 +0000

Carolyn Gruner

My mother had emergency colon surgery at the age of 88. Before the surgery, her doctor told us that sometimes the elderly patients bleed to death on the operating table because they are on blood thinners.

When the surgery was completed he told us she came through in great shape because they had enough time to give her a unit of platelets which literally saved her life. She is now 90 years old and is doing great!

Samantha Tischler

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:49:23 +0000

Samantha Tischler

My father was healthy, but his health began declining and within 3 weeks he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. They told us they did not know his life expectancy. Everything went into a blur, since after that time he did not leave the hospital while undergoing chemotherapy.

What did not cease to amaze us what the quantity of blood transfusions he received; starting with about 5 on the first day and one to three every day after that. When he left us two months later, we had no idea how many packets of red blood cells and platelets he had received, but we will forever be grateful to those who had donated, and allowed our family some extra time to say goodbye.

Kathy Yoemans

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:45:21 +0000

From Kathy Yoemans

Not the last time I gave, but the time before that, the needle kept going up aganist my vein and the blood flow would stop. So the nurse, I wish I would of gotten her name, sat with me and kept moving the needle to get the blood flowing again. It took a long time but but the nurse kept an eye on the scale and we got the bag filled. I didn’t mind the extra time, I was just glad that I was able to complete my donation to help the 4 people that needed my blood. Today, I’m at the Donor Fest, but I gave too recently and can’t give again until next Friday. Everyone is always so nice at all your centers and blood drives. Keep up the good work.

Amanda Medley

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:28:04 +0000

Amanda Medley

My older brother had a rare birth defect in his intestinal tract. Basically, there was a cyst type of pocket which filled with blood. This pocket then burst and continued to bleed rapidly. My brother received many units of blood at the hospital. It was at this time that I decided I should become a donor. If there had not been any blood donations to save him, my brother would have lost his life. I am so grateful that I still have my brother in my life. I donate to Lifeblood to try to help families who encounter situations just like mine did.

Thank you!!

Shaun Brennan

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:00:40 +0000

Shaun Brennan

I moved to Memphis from Washington, D.C. back in June 1998.

I knew I wanted to start doing some things that I had never done before.

In January of 1999, I was working at a company downtown, and a co-worker, James Washington, was heading out to go donate blood. I had never done that before, so within a week, I made my first donation at Lifeblood.

As of last Monday, thirteen years and two days later, I have made 250 blood/platelet donations. I’m a Centenarian, 100 or more donations, at both Lifeblood and at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Blood Donor Center. I’ve been working at ALSAC/St. Jude over eleven years now, so it makes perfect sense to donate there too. I never talk about one without talking about the other.

I’ll be back in the saddle again this coming Monday to make my 251st blood/platelet donation, this time at St. Jude. Two weeks after that, I’ll be back at Lifeblood at the Paul W. Barret, Jr. Blood Donor Center on Madison Avenue to donate once again. I’ve got to give a shout out to Lifeblood employees Pat, Mary, and Andrea. They are absolutely fantastic human beings, and make it so enjoyable to come in and donate!!!!

Great Nurses

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:12:42 +0000

From Kathy Yoemans

Hi. Not the last time I gave, but the time before that, the needle kept going up aganist my vein and the blood flow would stop. So the nurse, I wish I would of gotten her name, sat with me and kept moving the needle to get the blood flowing again. It took a long time but but the nurse kept an eye on the scale and we got the bag filled. I didn’t mind the extra time, I was just glad that I was able to complete my donation to help the 4 people that needed my blood. Today, i’m at the Donor Fest, but I gave to recently and can’t give again until next friday. Everyone
is always so nice at all your centers and blood drives. Keep up the good work.

Sabrina Smith

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:54:02 +0000

Sabrina Smith

My name is Sabrina Smith and people that are blood donors are truly blessings from God to those of us who need it. It has been about 6 years since I received blood in a life saving transplant operation, if it had not been for Lifeblood donors I would not be here today. It takes special people to give and to want to help others. We call them heroes and yes it is a miracle that many people are still here due to blood donors. I was sick for almost a year, and to have a transplant I knew someone had to donate blood for this to be possible. There were many things I was unable to do while waiting for a transplant. Many people don’t understand the importance and how all of these things fall together and I thank God for people like that willing to help others. If you have never considered giving blood, become a donor today and be a blessing to others.

Janice and Russell Page, Sr.

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:19:47 +0000

Janice and Russell Page, Sr.

As the son of a liver transplant survivor, I know that it is very important. My father had always been the very strong, do everything himself type of guy. When he began getting sick, he ceased to be himself. He slept all the time and did not come out of his room much. I actually got him to come to a Grizzlies game with me in October 2008. As we were leaving the game he fell and he began to get really sick really fast. By December we knew that if he did not get a liver transplant soon he could die. On December 31, 2008, my father was called in for what has put his life back on track and brought him back to us. Today he is as healthy as he ever was, and we are lucky to have him back.

There are other things that went on that people must know about. If it was not for the blood donations that people made to Lifeblood he would not have been able to have the surgery. If it was not for the tireless work of their staff the collection of the much needed blood would not happen. Lifeblood is always battling a critical shortage of blood and there are never enough donations to meet the need. So as the son of a survivor with Lifeblood’s help I ask you to come out and donate and help save a life.

-by Russell Page, Jr.

Larry Hall

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:45:09 +0000

Larry Hall

All the years I donated blood at Lifeblood, I never knew how much I was going to need it back.

In 2001 at the age of 52, my doctor told me I had alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and would require a liver transplant. By that time, I had already donated 5 gallons of blood. But, my days of donating blood were over for the time being.

I got on the transplant list and, in August 2004, I got really sick and needed blood transfusions. I was in and out of emergency rooms and hospitals for days, going downhill quickly. At the end of January 2005, I went into the hospital and stayed there until March. I was No. 1 on the West Tennessee liver transplant list for the entire month of February. The doctors sent me home for a week starting March 1 and, finally, on March 7, a liver became available. I had my transplant on March 8, 2005. It took me about a year to recover.

Between August 2004 and August 2005, I needed 121 units of blood and a dozen units of platelets to survive! Luckily for me, the blood supply was available, thanks to Lifeblood’s generous donors. I can’t begin to express my gratitude.

In an attempt to pay back the life that was given me, I started donating blood again in 2008. I give every time I’m eligible, and I’ve donated a total of 7 gallons of blood in my lifetime.

The thing is, you never know when you’re going to need blood, but, let me tell you, you sure hope it’s there if you do! If you had told me prior to 2001 that I was going to require 121 units of blood and a dozen units of platelets, I would’ve said, “No I’m not!” But I did.

I’m going to keep giving blood until I can’t give anymore!