Why Donors Are Needed

Patient Testimonials
Who better to explain why blood and platelet donations are needed than from those whose lives have been impacted as a result. The following are just a few of the many who have shared their personal stories.

Brianna

At the age of 16, I was in a life-changing car accident. I, like many of you, was a careless teenager and thought that NOTHING could or would hurt me. Boy, was I wrong! I ended up crashing my car into two good-sized trees, breaking them off at the trunks. I lost an incredible amount of blood.

I was in a coma for 13 weeks and I stayed in several hospitals for nearly six months. During that time, I received A LOT of blood transfusions. I want to say THANK YOU! I am 18 now and enjoying every moment of life! Please donate blood whenever you can, because you never know when it will save someone else.

James

My name is James and I have been a regular blood donor since high school – mostly because of the lessons I learned from my dad. For many years, he was an avid blood donor.  I remember going to the old blood center on Washington Street and seeing the huge milk cans with donors’ names displayed that recognized them for their ten gallon donations.  That really spoke to me!  I remember my dad saying he was going to be on one of them… and I wanted to chase that goal as well. 

In 2004, my dad was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and was no longer able to donate blood.  It was hard for him.  He became anemic as a result of the chemotherapy treatments and after all those years of donating, became a recipient of blood himself.  My dad lost his courageous battle with cancer in 2006.  He was grateful for the opportunity to give blood and even more grateful for receiving it when he needed it most.

My brother and I are still donating and are “competing” to see who can give the most blood.  My dad was my inspiration for giving.  He always will be.  I encourage each and every one of you to join me in becoming a regular blood donor.

Katie

In August of 2000, I was packed and ready to embark upon my new life as a college freshman at the University of Idaho. Unfortunately, a routine surgery to try to fix my hearing didn’t go as planned, and revealed to me that I had a very severe form of the blood disease “Aplastic Anemia”.

It is purely through the generous donations of blood and platelets that I am still here to enjoy the awesomeness of life. I have received roughly 200 red blood cell transfusions, and 250 platelet transfusions. Had (my brother) Jon not matched, I also would have been reliant on someone’s marrow matching mine from the National Bone Marrow Registry.

I can say nothing but “Thank You”. I promise to make my life worth having been saved.

Dean

I have given blood on a number of occasions with the knowledge I would be helping someone in trouble. The situation was reversed in the spring of 2005 when I suffered a dissected aorta which in turn lead to four strokes. The skilled surgical team at Kootenai Medical Center operated on me for ten hours where 149 blood products from around the region were needed to help save my life. I will forever be grateful to the caring people who take the time to donate their blood…it saves lives!
An INBC blood donor and recipient.

Kaley

By Mike and Debbie
Our daughter Kaley is alive today due in part to the Inland Northwest Blood Center and their loyal volunteer blood donors. She contracted meningococcemia in February of 2004. This rare disease, a bacterial infection, quickly destroys blood and blood vessels. Kaley needed over 40 units of blood products from INBC to keep her alive. She spent four months in hospitals and ended up losing both of her feet and parts of her fingers and thumbs, as well as possibly facing a kidney transplant. But she is alive, back in school, and happy. She is looking forward to walking on prosthetics and hopefully, the return of her own kidney function this year. When she desperately needed blood, INBC and the community was there to help us. For that, we extend our most sincere appreciation.

Cheyene

By Teresa
We are very thankful to have our daughter with us today. In March of 2004, Cheyene was flown from our hometown in Lewiston, Idaho to a major medical facility in Spokane because of a severe blood infection. If not for the blood transfusion administered immediately upon her arrival, she would not have survived. Cheyene was soon after diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and since then has received several more units of red blood cells and platelets. After a year of treatment, she is doing very well but will need to continue her therapy for another fourteen months, praying the leukemia remains in remission. There are so many children like Cheyene who need blood every day and we are so thankful to all of those who donate.

Mikie

Back in 1982, I spent a year of bed rest recuperating from a serious viral heart infection. Fourteen years passed and then suddenly cardiac failure struck. Although medical advancements allowed the possibility of new medications and new equipment to try to correct the problems, it was finally determined I would need a heart transplant. The staff at INBC’s Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Laboratory worked tirelessly through dozens of failed attempts before discovering a successful match that ultimately restored my health. I became the 99th heart transplant recipient through Spokane’s Inland Northwest Thoracic Transplant Program. The thoughtful heroism of the donor family, the generosity of volunteer blood donors, and the skills of the entire health care team has given me and my family a promising future.