01/04/2024
The following is an excerpt from an article from WDEL.com. To view the full article and video, click here: https://www.wdel.com/news/video-call-to-action-issued-by-blood-bank-of-delmarva/article_3497405a-ab3a-11ee-b662-6f242f860023.html
VIDEO | "Call to action" issued by Blood Bank of Delmarva
Every two seconds across the U.S., a transfusion is needed.
Ensuring that the supply of blood is adequate is the mission behind National Blood Donor Month, which was observed by the Blood Bank of Delmarva Thursday.
According to ChristianaCare Blood Bank Services Director Michael Healy, each year more than 35,000 transfusions of blood products take place for nearly 7,000 unique patients at ChristianaCare.
"Local blood donors are literally the lifeblood of work we do day in and day out," Healy said.
President Richard Nixon proclaimed January as National Blood Donor Month more than 50 years ago. Robert Moley first gave blood in the late 60s when he was in the Marine Corps.
He was already a frequent donor of platelets when his wife was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia more than 20 years ago, and was in need of platelet donations.
"I'm a man of faith so I made a deal with God: I said God, get my wife through this and I'll give platelets as often as I can," Moley said. "Since then, I've been keeping my end of the bargain."
On the receiving end of a donation are such people as Shane Simmons' son Maverick, now five years old. Maverick was one of three triplets born at 25 weeks gestation. Sadly, two of his siblings did not survive.
Maverick needed eight transfusions of platelets.
"To this day we don't know who they were, where they were from, but they are the reason we have our son," Simmons said.
Proclamations were presented for Blood Donor Month by Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Council President Karen Hartley-Nagle, and on behalf of County Executive Matt Meyer. Senator Tom Carper also attended.
Blood Bank of Delmarva Vice President Beau Tompkins said that the holiday season, illness, potential inclement weather and busy schedules this time of year may cause people to put off making a contribution. The Blood Bank of Delmarva is suggesting that donors commit to donating at least once a season in 2024. More than 60% of the population is eligible to donate, but about 3% actually do.
"Blood is something that we cannot create synthetically," Blood Bank of Delmarva Medical Director Dr. Bruce Sachais said. "We have to have volunteer donors and their good-natured donations to be able to give us the raw materials, which is the whole blood that we take from people, to be able to manufacture blood products to save patients in the hospitals and even actually out in the field here in Delaware."
To make an appointment, please call 888-8-BLOOD-8 or visit delmarvablood.org