By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
On Friday, May 16, a LifeServe Blood Center mobile blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the activity room at The New Homestead, 2306 State St., in Guthrie Center. Prize drawings will be held, and post-donation snacks will be provided.
Brandy Clark, community relations director at The New Homestead, tells how blood donation impacted her family in 2016.
“On May 9, I will be celebrating nine years since the gift of blood saved my life following the sudden premature birth of our Miss Cailynn at 28 weeks. That’s three months early, if you’re doing the math. She weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces at birth,” Clark said. “I was bleeding out from my uterus tearing away from its wall. The blood loss caused my hemoglobin level to fall to 4.5, and my body was shutting down; I was not able to breath on my own. At that moment, I was hanging on with a machine breathing for me.”
Because of generous blood donors, blood was available in Clark’s time of need. She received seven units.
“I will forever be grateful to those able and willing to donate. Without their generosity, my children would be growing up without a mother. Cailynn would have no memory of her mother. I can’t imagine that for them, not even today,” Clark said. “So, when I see you donating at our blood drive and offer my appreciation, understand it truly is from the bottom of my heart. Please join us on May 16.”
Anyone interested in reserving a donation timeslot can call LifeServe at 800-287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodceenter.org or text “lifeserve” to 999-777. Walk-in donations are also welcome.