By Mary Jo Blackwood, American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming Public Affairs
We’ve all watched M*A*S*H* episodes and seen the surgeons treating trauma and doing surgery where blood is needed constantly to replace what was lost. But blood and blood products, like plasma and platelets are also needed for cancer patients and others who can’t produce certain blood components on their own. The fact is, in most cases you don’t know just what purpose your blood or platelet donation served or who received it.
But in some cases you do. If you are planning surgery and the surgeon anticipates needing blood replacement, you can donate your own blood ahead of surgery to be given back to you as needed. Called autologous donation, that blood is earmarked for your use. People will often donate blood for a loved one or friend. Even if they don’t share the same blood type, they get credit for that blood when another unit is used with the correct type.
Here is a story of one case where blood was needed several times for delicate heart surgeries.
After two healthy pregnancies and deliveries, Amanda Schemmel became pregnant a third time. During that pregnancy, doctors picked up a malformation in the baby’s heart. Knowing that, she and her family relocated from Cheyenne, Wyoming to the Denver area to be close to pediatric cardiac specialists.
During an emergency Caesarean section, her son Remington was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means the left side of his heart did not develop properly. Consequently, he had his first heart surgery when he was six days old and received blood from other donors.
When he was scheduled for his next heart procedure at six months of age, Amanda donated blood for him, but his surgery was postponed. So that blood was used for someone else. When he was three years old, he had his third heart surgery. Amanda and three of her friends donated for him. She and one friend with the same blood type had their blood used for Remington. The other two pints were used for other patients.
Amazingly, Remington still only has half a heart. The left side, which is supposed to pump the blood throughout the body, is undeveloped. Surgeons were able to redirect that function through the lungs, which now serve as his blood pump. His blood oxygen level is a little lower than other people’s and he tires easier, but for the most part he is healthy and has no other surgeries planned. Because his body works hard to get the blood he needs, he burns calories twice as fast as most people; so keeping up his weight is a big priority. So is preventing illness. Says Amanda, “Even a common cold can take a long time to clear up because of the added burden to the lungs. When COVID hit, my family was already well-versed in isolation procedures and wearing masks. And we still are always vigilant.”
From all appearances, Remington is now a normal six-year old doing what six year olds do. He likes to show off his collection of beads he received for every blood draw and procedure he underwent. He has finished kindergarten and will go into first grade in the fall. He can tell his classmates that his heart is special. When his school had Jump Rope for Heart, a fundraiser sponsored by the American Heart Association, Amanda came to school and talked to his class about her son’s heart and how healthy hearts are so important.
In addition to being a busy parent to 13-year old Aidan, 8-year old Kylie and 6-year old Remington, Amanda is also the regional program manager for Services to the Armed Forces and International Services. She sees the whole spectrum of how the American Red Cross fulfills their mission of preparing people and alleviating suffering. She has seen that an adequate blood supply is a big part of that mission, and continues to donate blood to further that mission.