People You Help

Michael was diagnosed with leukemia when he was three and required 12 transfusions while undergoing chemotherapy. He was cancer free until April 2010 when he was diagnosed with leukemia again. He has two years of chemotherapy left, and already has had several blood transfusions and several platelet transfusions. Michael and his family are extremely grateful that blood products are available when he needs them. They ask for your continued support by taking time to donate blood.  

In July of 2005 the Brown family was on vacation in the Denver area when their 10-year-old daughter Miranda became ill. Her parents took Miranda to The Children’s Hospital in Denver after she became jaundice and was experiencing extreme fatigue.
 

Miranda was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which means she was making antibodies against her own red cells. In many cases doctors do not know the cause of this condition. Miranda was transfused with 21 units of blood because her red cell destruction was working faster than her body’s ability to make the cells. When Miranda was well enough to travel, her family brought her home where she was admitted to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. There, she received six more transfusions.
 

Miranda’s doctors sent her samples to BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s Reference Laboratory to identify the rare characteristics of her antibody and to make sure that she hadn’t made any against the cells in the blood that she received through transfusion.
 

Eventually, the antibody disappeared. Her family is grateful that blood was available for Miranda in both Denver and here in Wisconsin. Her mother is also pleased that the doctors in Denver were more than happy to consult with Dr. Jerry Gottschall on Miranda’s case.

In 2003, Jessica, a teenager from Mukwonago was in a terrible car accident. As she, her sister and friend were on their way to Alpine Valley for a summer concert, a mini van traveling 55 miles per hour smashed into their car. Jessica sustained multiple internal injuries in addition to a shattered pelvis, collapsed lung and broken collar bone. She was taken by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital, requiring a unit of blood during transport. After two days in the intensive care unit she underwent two surgeries and received nine more units of blood. Prior to her accident Jessica was afraid of needles but now knows the importance of blood donation. She is currently a local college student and donates regularly along with her roommate Amanda

Mason was born 15 weeks premature. He needed six blood transfusions during his three month stay at Children's Hospital because his tiny body could not produce enough blood. He recently celebrated his fourth birthday and is doing well. Mason's parents, Cindy and Kevin, were blood donors before their son was born. "We love donating because it's for a good cause," Cindy, Mason's mother says. "We think it is fabulous what BloodCenter of Wisconsin does to help the community."

Amy of Marinette was diagnosed with leukemia the summer before her senior year of high school. She received 37 units of blood while in treatment at Children’s Hospital. Today she’s attending college and has been cancer free for five years.

Nate was born with an underdeveloped heart. He had his first of nine reconstructive surgeries when he was just a week old. Nate received a total of 24 transfusions and although doctors say he has a long road ahead of him, Nate is a bright-eyed, energetic toddler.
 

Isaac, of Amherst, was in an ATV accident that resulted in six broken bones on the left side of his body. He spent 16 days in the ICU and received 12 blood transfusions. His family is grateful to everyone who donates blood. Nearly three years later, Isaac is still undergoing surgeries. A twelfth surgery in March helped repair his left leg, which was 6cm shorter than his right leg. Isaac’s broken bones did not break his spirit. Now 15, he has a great attitude toward life and loves to swim.

Dori was born prematurely at 30 weeks. To complicate matters, there was a knot in the umbilical cord, which resulted in a brain hemorrhage. She was in the hospital for 9 weeks and received several blood transfusions. Dori is now healthy and happy. Her mom, Kelly, says she will be forever grateful to the blood donors who helped save Dori’s life. Their generosity inspired Kelley to become a blood donor herself and give back to the community.

Sam was less than 24 hours old when he developed a fever. BloodCenter of Wisconsin helped Sam’s doctors diagnose him with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, a condition that left his body unable to develop its own blood platelets. Platelets are the component of blood that helps blood to clot. Sam received six transfusions as part of his treatment. By the time he was five days old, his body was producing and maintaining platelets on its own. Today, he is happy and healthy.
 

Ben Schiller has endured many challenges in his young life. He was born with a congenital birth defect which has resulted in two heart surgeries as well as a trip to the emergency room due to a torn artery. He has received 21 units of red cells, three units of platelets and two units of plasma. Today, at the age of 7 his mom Deb says he’s doing well but will need more surgery in the future. “People who donate blood are incredible,” she says. “I’m back to donating myself, it’s so important and the need is real.”
 

When Jenny went on regular outings with a friend to donate blood she saw it as time with a friend to have dinner and see a movie. She did not look at it as helping someone. That changed when her 8-year-old son Nathan had his tonsils removed in March 2007. Soon after, he experienced severe bleeding and had to have emergency surgery. He lost so much blood that he needed a transfusion. During the transfusion, he asked if he was getting the blood his mother donated. It most likely was not, but he was getting blood from someone who donates just like she does.

Now when she donates, Jenny says she pictures a family in need and knows that she was there to help.
 

Trinity was born with a congenital heart defect and has since had three heart surgeries. There were severe complications during her second surgery and she was placed on an artificial heart and lung machine for several days. During this time, Trinity needed blood in order to keep her stable.

Her family is very thankful to all the selfless donors who have given their time to save lives. Trinity is now happy, healthy and enjoys being a student, a violin player and a big sister.

Mike receives regular plasma exchange therapy to treat his autoimmune disease. If it wasn’t for the 22 years of treatment, he says he would not be able to walk.
 

Complications during birth restricted the amount of blood Abby could receive from her mother during labor. When she was born, she was very pale and not breathing, but still had a strong heartbeat. After hours of working to find a vein that had not collapsed, doctors successfully gave her a transfusion, saving her life.
 

Jeremiah is a college student from Waukesha who has sickle cell anemia. Thanks to the generosity of blood donors, he is able to receive monthly red blood cell exchange therapy. These treatments decrease the amount of iron in his blood stream which helps to keep his organs healthy. Jeremiah wants to pursue a career in the medical field and these transfusions keep him strong enough to help achieve his goals.
 

In 1992, Susan experienced complications during Nicole’s birth that caused life-threatening bleeding. Thanks to the generosity of blood donors, she received 28 units of blood in 24 hours. Today, Susan and Nicole enjoy participating in church activities and working on puzzles together, and Susan loves watching her daughter dance. They are grateful to everyone who made the time they spend together possible.

In August 2005, right before her second birthday, Grace Anne was diagnosed with leukemia. She has received several blood transfusions and is now in long term maintenance, but may need transfusions in the future.

Her mother Heidi of Racine, who is a blood donor, is extremely grateful to those who have helped her daughter.

In 2004, Annemarie underwent a major operation with significant risks at a local hospital. The next day,complications from the surgery led to internal bleeding. Annemarie received 14 units of blood and three units of plasma during and after surgery. She said, “Blood donors saved my life. If it wasn’t for the dozen or so people I received blood from I would not be here for my kids.”

Colin was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia when he was 19 months old. After 130 weeks of chemotherapy, he was able to stop treatment and his cancer remained in remission. He relapsed two and a half years later, and underwent two more years of chemotherapy. While undergoing treatment, he received 55 units of blood to maintain his red blood cell and platelet count. Now at age eleven he is doing well, and no longer needs more than regular checkups.
 

Randy has always been an outdoorsman. But fourteen years ago, his life changed forever when he was diagnosed with a neurological disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

CIDP is an autoimmune disease that slows down the nerves in the hands and feet. It is caused by an antibody in his plasma that attacks his nerves. His physician prescribed a procedure called plasma exchange therapy as treatment which is conducted weekly by BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s medical services staff. The damaging antibodies are removed and Randy receives a plasma protein which comes from whole blood donations. If he didn’t have this procedure regularly he says he would probably be a quadriplegic.

“Now I am able to do the things that people take for granted. I thank blood donors for their continuing support in helping me live a normal life.”
 

Richard was born premature and had a heart attack shortly after birth. He received three blood transfusions as a newborn. Today he is a healthy young boy and a huge basketball fan.
 

Kayla has sickle cell disease, a disorder that causes damage to her red blood cells. She has had two silent strokes, which are a complication of the disease. Fortunately, blood transfusions can help prevent future strokes. Every four weeks she is transfused and her family is grateful that the blood is available for her each month. Thanks to the treatments she can be the high-spirited preschooler that she is.

Logan started his life with many health complications. He was born with breathing and feeding problems as well as cerebral palsy. Nothing, however, was scarier than when an artery in his stomach tore. At just one year old, Logan needed four blood transfusions.

Today, Logan is four years old and doing well. He still faces some physical challenges, but cognitively his mother, Melissa, says he is doing great.