TELL US YOUR STORY

Maddy Elledge, daughter of WJBF's Jennie Montgomery, donated her life saving blood at Shepeard Community Blood Center in Evans, GA. This is just days after her 16th birthday and was her very first blood donation.

"When I was 14, one of my mom's cousins had a stepson who was burned at his college in Mississippi. They flew him the [Joseph M.] Still Burn Center where he stayed for 3 months. We had two blood drives for Tyler and even though I was too young to donate, I helped put up signs and balloons. I decided the first thing I wanted to do when I turned 16 (after my [driver's]license!) was be a blood donor." 

Donating Can Have Medical Benefits for Donors!!

Robert Wilkes of North Augusta, South Carolina told us his amazing story. After donating with Shepeard Community Blood Center, he received his cholesterol results (after 3 donations Shepeard sends a lipid profile voucher for donor to use to find out their cholesterol levels) and he saw that his level was elevated. He took this information to his family doctor. The first sign of trouble for Mr. Wilkes was his elevated cholesterol levels - and ultimately his doctor decided that Mr. Wilkes needed stents. Mr. Wilkes attributes donating blood with saving his life because he had no clue that he was at risk for a blockage since he had no family history of heart disease.

Saying Thank You By Donating Blood

Ms. Dorothy Gibbons of Aiken, South Carolina told us her story. Below is her story of service and gratitude.

Two years ago a blood vessel in my mother's stomach burst. She was hospitalized for almost two weeks and received many blood transfusions as they tried to stop the bleeding. When she was deemed to be healthy again, I was so grateful to those strangers whose blood had saved my mother that I wanted to do soemthing to show my appreciation. I decided to donate the amount of blood equal to the amount that saved my mother's life. As I began my regular donations every 8 weeks, I realized that the process was so quick and stress free that there was no reason not to continue to give as often as I was allowed and save lives.

Henry Flake - as shared on Facebook:

I started donating because my wife did, and I didn't want to look like a wimp. Then, I learned that donating could help ease my high blood pressure and helps those who need blood at the same time. Finally, it has become such a habit that I just continue to give.

Dr. Christopher DeWitt

Dr. Christopher DeWitt is a University of SC-Aiken professor. He teaches Microbiology & Exercise Physiology. How excited we were when he came in to donate his 13th gallon at Shepeard Community Blood Center Aiken. Since every donation can save three lives, Dr. De Witt potentially saved 312 lives!

Here's what he had to stay when he told us his story:

"I donate to help people in need. I enjoy seeing the staff at Shepeard as they are very professional and friendly. I often bring my 3 year old daughter and 5 year old son while donating because I hope when they are old enough they will become donors, too. I encourage my USC-A students to donate and I plan to donate forever."

- Dr. Christopher DeWitt

Zain Curtis  On July 20th, I showed up at noon to greet other Lions Club members who had signed up to give blood, bless their hearts. I had in tow my 13-year-old cousin Zain Curtis who was spending the day with me. Zain was not up for spending 3 or 4 hours at a blood drive, so he was allowed to run down to the shoe store and look at football cleats and return to the blood drive, and this went on until the time passed. And the pizza at the blood drive helped, too. When all his distractions were exhausted, he sat at the Shepeard Center with a glum look on his face. My girlfriend, Missy, had shown up to donate blood and she saw Zain. She said “Gee, Zain you are not enjoying this much, are you?” He replied that he was not, and that he was bored. He very much wanted to leave. And finally we did.

The following Saturday, Zain was brutally injured in a 4-wheeler accident and walked a half-mile back to his home where he begged his mother to take him directly to the ER. Zain had ruptured his spleen and had a hole in his stomach. He was bleeding out. The ER doctor said he had about 45 minutes to live because of the loss of blood, but that Aiken Regional Hospital Medical Centers had him “covered” on the blood. And that blood came from the drive at the Shepeard Center, where Zain had been sitting around so bored. Yes, that blood saved Zain's life.

As he was coming out of the ICU I asked Zain, "Hey, buddy, how do you feel about the blood drives now?" He said, "I feel real good about them." So, within one week of our club’s blood drive, my own life was affected by seeing the life of my cousin saved. And I tell you...it can and will happen in your own backyard. Give blood.

Margaret Foreman, Aiken, SC
Blood Recipient, Zain Curtis, 13

Hopped In for a Friend

IHOP Team Leaders Terry Williams, Kelly Snyder, Nancy Gardner and Laura Hutto were compelled to donate to honor their friend and co-worker, Christa LaCroiux. Christa’s husband, Robert, recently underwent emergency surgery and the four decided, “the blood he was using needed to be replaced,” said Terry.

Terry’s daughter also had to have three blood transfusions as a baby. For her, this is “a way to give back.” Laura Hutto is following after her father who has donated to the level of Gallon Donor. Laura’s grandmother had two transfusions for surgery after her cancer diagnosis. It was during this visit to the Wrightsboro Road center that Laura got information on becoming a platelet donor. “That’s what I want to do next time. That way I can help cancer patients, too,” said Laura.

Kelly Snyder said there wasn’t any hesitation from the group. “We needed to do what we could.” The camaraderie among the team and the desire to do what they could to help would make Christa proud. Says Nancy Gardner, “They’re a young couple. They’re very close. We felt like we had to do something to help them.”

Rosena Armstrong Reid  

I started giving blood during my second year of college in 1975. My father was diagnosed with kidney failure and was in the hospital a lot. He was sent to the medical center in Charleston, SC because Florence, SC had only one small hospital. After coming back home, he was placed on dialysis for his kidney failure. He was in and out of the hospital due to complications. I gave blood because he needed transfusions sometimes because he was so weak....My father lived eight years after being diagnosed. I gave blood every three months so he would have it when he needed it. When I moved to Augusta in 1978, I continued donating because I did not have a lot of money to give to charities. I felt good knowing that my donation could save three lives. I still donate but only about twice a year now....My story is really interesting because I am scared of needles. I always tell the person taking my blood not to let me see the needle....I am very proud that I have helped so many people during all these years by giving blood.

— Rosena Armstrong Reid

Jennifer Woodard  

We were expecting triplets, and we couldn’t have been more excited. We had wanted children for so long. Unfortunately, it was not an easy pregnancy or delivery. Jennifer received several blood transfusions in the hospital before the babies were delivered. She was on bed rest for four weeks in the hospital, and then her doctor decided she couldn’t carry the babies any further. At 27 weeks gestation on February 24, 2004, Elana, Grayson, and Emily were born by cesarean section at University Hospital. During the delivery, Jennifer lost a lot of blood due to the deep implantation of one of the placentas. She received many units of donated blood during the surgery and more blood and plasma in the Intensive Care Unit after delivery. One of those units of blood was donated by her mother who shared her blood type. Without the many life saving transfusions, Jennifer would not have made it out of intensive care to see the babies that she had wanted for so long.

At just over two pounds each, Elana, Grayson, and Emily had fights of their own after they were delivered. They each proved up to the challenge. They fought past heart and lung problems, infection, sickness, and surgeries. While fighting these battles, each of them received units of donated blood to keep them going. Four months after they were born, they were all home for the first time. They have had some ups and downs since then, but two years later they are three happy and healthy children.

We are so grateful for all those people who donated blood for us. Without their generosity, we would not be where we are today. I was a blood donor before, but I never knew how important it was until after my family benefited so much from donated blood. I will make sure to donate regularly for the rest of my life. Please donate blood regularly; it truly is the gift of life.

--Jennifer Woodard