Summer brings warmer weather, barbecues, family vacations and many opportunities to give blood at Vitalant drives and donation centers. The need for blood often increases during summer months because more people are out and about. That’s why we gave each blood donor who donated June 1-28 a $10 gift card via Donor Rewards.
Two of our terrific blood donors also won $10,000 in gift cards in our Gear Up for Summer Giveaway — the cherry on top of the sundae this summer for these donors and for the patients they helped.
Out of the thousands of donors who gave blood during the giveaway time frame, a donor from Tennessee and a donor from North Dakota were randomly drawn as the $10,000 winners.
Adrian K. of North Dakota is our first Gear Up Giveaway winner. With a total of 53 donations with Vitalant, Adrian has given whole blood, platelets and Power Red. His winning whole blood donation occurred June 25. Hats off and many kudos to Adrian!
Our second winner, Brenda G. of Tennessee (pictured), felt skeptical and worried it was a scam when she found out she’d won. When she realized it was legit, she felt overwhelmed and humbled.
As a universal blood donor with type O-negative blood, Brenda has donated 158 times with Vitalant, all whole blood donations. She is also considered a “baby donor,” meaning her blood is CMV-negative and can be used specifically for newborns and patients with weakened immune systems. Her winning donation took place June 13.
Brenda gave blood for the first time in 1989 on a bloodmobile at her workplace. She donated because she thought it was the right thing to do. Part of that feeling comes from living in an area with a myriad of medical centers.
“Not only do we have the usual number of hospitals, but we also have specialty facilities like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, the Veteran’s Hospital as well as Regional One, a trauma facility,” she says. “I wish folks could see the connection in donating blood to the positive outcome it has on these facilities. We all have either had or know someone whose child has been treated at St. Jude or LeBonheur. Most of us know a veteran or someone with a critical injury who had to visit Regional One. They are saving lives every day, and blood donation allows us to be part of their success.”
Brenda is proud of her accomplishments as a blood donor — and so are we! She is proud to have donated for three individual surgeries for friends and family members. She is proud to be just two pints short of 20 gallons. She is proud to have been recently added to the Vital Elite program at Vitalant. She is also proud to be enrolled in the American Rare Donor Program as her red blood cell type is present in less than one out of 1,000 people.
“Giving blood saves lives. Pay it forward because one day, it may be a family member or yourself that needs a unit of blood,” she urges. Big congratulations on being a life saver, Brenda!