Donors Urged to Give Thanks by Giving Blood to Help Patients Through the Holidays

Every two seconds, a patient in the U.S. needs blood but fewer donors give as end-of-year holiday activities start to fill calendars. That’s why nonprofit Vitalant is urging all eligible donors to give thanks for their good health and make an appointment to give blood this November. Just an hour time commitment helps ensure every patient’s blood need can be met all through the holidays.  

Maddalena Tray’s family fosters a giving spirit every November by hosting a blood drive in their community. Shortly after she was born, Maddalena was diagnosed with a biochemical abnormality called metabolic acidosis. She had too much lactic acid in her body, causing her organs to start to shut down. In the NICU she received more than 40 blood products. Several years later, she’s able to enjoy her love of dancing, taking ballet and participating in a competitive hip hop team. 

“We believe in paying it forward -- we were once the family in need, and now we have the chance to help others the same way people helped us,” Maddalena’s mom, Nancy said. “Doing this around Thanksgiving makes it even more meaningful, as it’s a time to reflect on gratitude, generosity and giving back.”

Blood Helps Even the Littlest of Patients

November is also National Prematurity Awareness Month. Premature infants commonly have anemia and need blood transfusions to help them thrive. The National Institutes of Health cites more than 80% of extremely preterm infants need at least one transfusion in their first month.

It takes donors of all blood types to keep the blood supply stable, especially type O and platelet donors. O-negative blood can help any patient. O-positive, the most common blood type, can help anyone with a positive blood type.

Vitalant is thanking donors in November with a chance to win one of two $10,000 prepaid gift cards in the Shopping Spree Giveaway*.

Learn more and make an appointment to give by visiting vitalant.org, download the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

*Terms and conditions apply. Visit: vitalant.org/shoppinggiveaway.