by Jana Novak, American Red Cross Volunteer
“He needed daily blood transfusions to keep him alive, and he would not have lived day to day without the life-giving donations of others.”
“My sister got really sick with cancer. She needed several transfusions, especially platelets.”
“The only thing keeping him alive was blood transfusions…but he felt uncomfortable that he was using blood that could have gone to someone else.”
These words reflect the daily reality of the critical needs that blood donations fill; the reality of how a blood donation will save a life. For this reason, these donations are a vital part of the work the American Red Cross does. In fact, according to our research, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood for lifesaving care, whether for treating cancer, chronic illness, surgeries or traumatic injuries.
Sadly, a lot of blood is needed every single day in our country – tallying approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells, nearly seven thousand units of platelets, and ten thousand units of plasma. All told, almost 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the United States. Unfortunately, all of these supplies must be used quickly: red blood cells must be used within 42 days (or less!) and platelets must be used within just five days. This means that we must keep our blood supplies well-stocked.
In Colorado, unlike most of the rest of the country, the Red Cross does not run its own blood collection organization. This is because there was a long-established nonprofit in the state that covered this vital work (originally Bonfils, now Vitalant), and it made more sense to collaborate with them rather than reinvent the wheel.
The Red Cross embraced this partnership, and simply added to it by occasionally hosting or co-hosting blood drives with the local hospitals and having supplementary blood supplies flown in from St. Paul, MN. These biomedical deliveries are then transported from Denver International Airport to four or five area hospitals via couriers.
As the Red Cross is always looking for ways to improve, an analysis was done regarding whether it was possible to transition from a professional courier service to a volunteer delivery team and even lead the team with a volunteer instead of a staff member. This would create monetary savings beneficial to the region that would put more dollars towards those in need. Even more important, this change would bring attention to the Red Cross blood donation program ¾ a key mission not known in this area.
Therefore, the decision was made to have volunteers take over the last legs of this transport. As before, a courier will pick up the blood at the airport and deliver it to a central location in Denver. At this point, instead of additional couriers delivering the blood on to the hospitals, volunteers will take on these separate deliveries.
The initial plan consists of 13 volunteer drivers under the direction of volunteer lead Suzanne Faerber, who reports to staffers Mary Black and Shawn Schulze. They will deliver to four local hospitals on two days per week. As time goes on, the Red Cross, as well as the staff and volunteers involved, will evaluate whether there is the capability to add additional delivery days.
To create this program has required a lot of hard work and effort on the part of the staff, but especially the volunteers. As there is an extra level of expertise required when working with biomedical materials like blood ¾ volunteers need to get additional training in antigens, what to do if one of the packages burst, and, of course, defensive driving, among other things.
For many of these volunteers, though, this hard work is worth it, as there is also the incredibly personal and heartfelt component of this work.
For example, Debbie Capra, whose husband was diagnosed with a rare and lethal form of leukemia, and underwent an umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant: “Following his transplant, my husband Dominic needed daily blood transfusions to keep him alive until the new stem cells began to multiple in his body to rebuild his immune system. He would not have lived day-to-day without the life-giving donations of others.”
While, unfortunately, Dominic did eventually pass away from leukemia, thanks to numerous blood transfusions and important scientific research, he was able to have extended time with his family, including two then-young daughters. This experience has led the entire Capra family to rally to the support of blood donations and blood stem cell and bone marrow donations. Through their volunteer activism, they even learned that during a blood/stem cell donor testing drive held on behalf of Dominic when he was newly diagnosed, despite no matches for Dominic, 31 people did match for others in the world that needed a lifesaving transplant. As Debbie says: “It is so important for healthy people to realize that the donation of blood products and stem cells is easy, safe and with minimal discomfort, and it saves and extends the lives of others ¾ and maybe someday even someone in their own family.”
Or fellow transport volunteer Brandon Hunnicutt, who started with the Red Cross nearly 20 years ago as a Health and Safety Instructor originally, and who began giving blood after his initial training was completed. Then his sister got really sick with cancer and needed several transfusions, especially platelets. In a coincidence, “just a few months earlier, I started giving platelets instead of whole blood. I got one of the certificates saying that my donation had been used. I don’t know if my donation was used by my sister or someone else, but she’s been my motivation to support BioMed ever since, in her memory.”
Even the lead volunteer, Suzanne, has a personal connection that inspired her to get involved: “Blood availability has been important for me for a long time. I would donate blood when it was convenient until my father got cancer 19 years ago. When he ended up in the hospital, and my family was waiting for me to get back home, the only thing keeping him alive was blood transfusions. He felt uncomfortable that he was using blood that could have gone to someone else. I vowed after that time that I would do all I could to participate in blood donation programs so no one would have to worry about blood availability.”
Of course, as is true with all of the Red Cross programs and volunteer efforts, you don’t have to have a deep personal connection or some profound meaning behind why you want to volunteer and in what area. Sometimes it’s just because it’s a good fit or just want to be of service to others. That’s great too!
Like some of the other volunteers on the BioMed Transport, such as Gretchen Dewey, who has regularly volunteered with her husband Bob as an Emergency Response Vehicle Driver and wanted to start volunteering more often in a local capacity, or Dick Hansen, who is a long-time blood donor but a new volunteer to the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming Division; he heard about the BioMed Transport program at the Donor Appreciation Dinner at the Governor’s Mansion and thought it sounded great. Gretchen and Dick, and all the rest of the volunteers, are critical to the success of this new venture.
This transition will be huge for the Red Cross. It ensures that the Red Cross will save money where possible, while it continues to be at the forefront of providing lifesaving services to those who live and work here.
As at the end of the day, that’s what matters ¾ to be of service to others, as Debbie points out: “My late husband and I both had donated blood products since college, never really thinking one of us would be in need. Supporting the BioMed Transport team provides a service to those individuals and families that need this lifesaving gift. It is a privilege to be a part of this.”