Shan Xue
1st April 2005, 11:10 AM
Real stories of how blood donation save lives provides the fuel for me to continue to donate blood.
here are some of the stories
Gabino & Alexis Salgado
Aurora, IL
Ten years ago, Gabino Salgado was living in Mexico and barely 20 years old when he learned he was going to be a father. However, his joy at the prospect of raising a young son or daughter was swiftly overshadowed by some bad news: his doctors diagnosed him with a deadly lung fungus. The doctors attempted to treat him for the disease, but Gabino did not respond to the medication, so family living in Aurora, IL brought him over for treatment in this country. The physicians here confirmed his condition was serious and would require surgery. Four months later, doctors removed part of his lung, and after experiencing complications during the operation, Gabino received an emergency transfusion of two units of blood. Just two months later, Alexis, was born – a healthy baby boy. Today father and son are inseparable, and a fully-recovered Gabino will be forever grateful to the donors that provided the blood needed for his transfusion. Eight-year-old Alexis summed it up best: “Thanks to someone who cared, my daddy is here with me today.”
http://www.heartlandbc.org/real_stories.htm
Farid Abouseadah
Some might say that Farid Abouseadah is a lucky man. After all, in 62 years, he found true love with his wife, Sandra; raised one son; has been employed with Emerson for 14 years and even underwent two liver transplants. But Farid knows it’s more than just luck—without the generosity of blood and organ donors, he would not be alive today.
Three years ago, Farid and his wife were returning from a visit to Egypt. Uncomfortably cold on the plane, he soon came down with pneumonia, which escalated from there. After experiencing difficulty breathing, his wife rushed him to the emergency room, where fluid was drained from his lungs. A week later, it happened again.
Doctors wanted to find the source of his problem quickly.
A liver biopsy was performed, but an MRI detected liver cancer. By this point, Farid’s liver had begun to fail, and he was placed on the transplant list at St. Louis University. Within two weeks, good news arrived. A liver was available.
But the new liver failed within six hours. Farid was not expected to survive.
In transplant situations, the odds are not favorable in locating another organ in a short amount of time. But, in Farid’s case, the odds were in his favor. Another liver became available within 24 hours.
This time, the operation was a success. But without available blood for his transplants, the outcome might not have been so good. Blood donations are separated into three components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. This is the reason that one donation can help save up to three lives. And in Farid’s case, blood donations helped play a significant role in his survival.
After receiving two livers, 134 units of red blood cells, 85 units of plasma and 22 units of platelets, Farid is in good health. His wife is a regular blood donor, and he wants to encourage everyone he knows to give blood as well. “I want to thank everyone who has given blood,” said Farid. “There is not one day I’m not thankful to be alive.”
http://www.americanredcrossblood.org/testimonials.html
Lindsey Meglio
Lindsey Meglio’s eleventh birthday was little cause for celebration. She had just been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system. The disease was found in her lungs, spleen and liver. By her twelfth birthday, the cancer had wrapped itself around her heart.
“I didn’t even know what cancer was then,” Lindsey recalled. “I thought I could take a pill for it. I thought, ‘Okay, give me the medicine and we’ll go home.’ But I was in for a long ride.”
After eight months of chemotherapy, five platelet procedures, two blood transfusions, six months of radiation and a bone marrow transplant, Lindsey could finally celebrate. Her cancer was gone.
Today, she celebrates being cancer-free. A student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Lindsey is the picture of health and happiness. She spends her time hanging out with her sorority sisters, studying for exams and enjoying each new day.
“I know how important it is for people to donate blood as often as possible,” emphasized Lindsey. “Without volunteer blood donors, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
http://www.americanredcrossblood.org/testimonials.html
here are some of the stories
Gabino & Alexis Salgado
Aurora, IL
Ten years ago, Gabino Salgado was living in Mexico and barely 20 years old when he learned he was going to be a father. However, his joy at the prospect of raising a young son or daughter was swiftly overshadowed by some bad news: his doctors diagnosed him with a deadly lung fungus. The doctors attempted to treat him for the disease, but Gabino did not respond to the medication, so family living in Aurora, IL brought him over for treatment in this country. The physicians here confirmed his condition was serious and would require surgery. Four months later, doctors removed part of his lung, and after experiencing complications during the operation, Gabino received an emergency transfusion of two units of blood. Just two months later, Alexis, was born – a healthy baby boy. Today father and son are inseparable, and a fully-recovered Gabino will be forever grateful to the donors that provided the blood needed for his transfusion. Eight-year-old Alexis summed it up best: “Thanks to someone who cared, my daddy is here with me today.”
http://www.heartlandbc.org/real_stories.htm
Farid Abouseadah
Some might say that Farid Abouseadah is a lucky man. After all, in 62 years, he found true love with his wife, Sandra; raised one son; has been employed with Emerson for 14 years and even underwent two liver transplants. But Farid knows it’s more than just luck—without the generosity of blood and organ donors, he would not be alive today.
Three years ago, Farid and his wife were returning from a visit to Egypt. Uncomfortably cold on the plane, he soon came down with pneumonia, which escalated from there. After experiencing difficulty breathing, his wife rushed him to the emergency room, where fluid was drained from his lungs. A week later, it happened again.
Doctors wanted to find the source of his problem quickly.
A liver biopsy was performed, but an MRI detected liver cancer. By this point, Farid’s liver had begun to fail, and he was placed on the transplant list at St. Louis University. Within two weeks, good news arrived. A liver was available.
But the new liver failed within six hours. Farid was not expected to survive.
In transplant situations, the odds are not favorable in locating another organ in a short amount of time. But, in Farid’s case, the odds were in his favor. Another liver became available within 24 hours.
This time, the operation was a success. But without available blood for his transplants, the outcome might not have been so good. Blood donations are separated into three components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. This is the reason that one donation can help save up to three lives. And in Farid’s case, blood donations helped play a significant role in his survival.
After receiving two livers, 134 units of red blood cells, 85 units of plasma and 22 units of platelets, Farid is in good health. His wife is a regular blood donor, and he wants to encourage everyone he knows to give blood as well. “I want to thank everyone who has given blood,” said Farid. “There is not one day I’m not thankful to be alive.”
http://www.americanredcrossblood.org/testimonials.html
Lindsey Meglio
Lindsey Meglio’s eleventh birthday was little cause for celebration. She had just been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system. The disease was found in her lungs, spleen and liver. By her twelfth birthday, the cancer had wrapped itself around her heart.
“I didn’t even know what cancer was then,” Lindsey recalled. “I thought I could take a pill for it. I thought, ‘Okay, give me the medicine and we’ll go home.’ But I was in for a long ride.”
After eight months of chemotherapy, five platelet procedures, two blood transfusions, six months of radiation and a bone marrow transplant, Lindsey could finally celebrate. Her cancer was gone.
Today, she celebrates being cancer-free. A student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Lindsey is the picture of health and happiness. She spends her time hanging out with her sorority sisters, studying for exams and enjoying each new day.
“I know how important it is for people to donate blood as often as possible,” emphasized Lindsey. “Without volunteer blood donors, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
http://www.americanredcrossblood.org/testimonials.html