Moms stress value of donating blood
Two local moms are hoping Lethbridge residents will come out and support Canadian Blood Services as they try to find 400 donors to reach their target for May.
On Thursday, Ashley Crabb and Karlie Doll donated blood and brought a number of friends with them to donate as well. Both learned the importance of blood donation after their sons were saved with the use of blood transfusions.
Crabb was donating for her ninth time. Her son, Ethan, was born at 26 weeks during an emergency after Ashley fell ill. Before he could be born, Ashley required a transfusion herself.
Ethan was born weighing one pound, five ounces, and required a blood transfusion just five days after birth. He would need four more in subsequent transfusions.
Ethan was in neonatal intensive care for 136 days. During that time, there was a blood shortage in Calgary.
“You never know when you’re going to need it,” Crabb said. “It sounds cliche, but when we needed it, there was a shortage, and they were trying to organize a big blood drive.
“It’s not something you think you’ll ever need. And you hear the announcements all the time of them asking people to give.
“But when it hits home, it makes it more of an eye-opener.”
Doll’s son Mason was six months old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He received a bone marrow transplant at 11 months old. Through his course of treatment, he needed a lot of blood and stem cells.
“Donors have allowed my son to be here today,” Doll said. “I like to come out and support as much as I can.”
Doll said she sometimes thought about donating blood, but never actually got around to it until after her son became ill and needed transfusions. His need hit home the importance of the act.
“Every month they are in need of donors to meet demands,” she said. “But how amazing would it be if they didn’t have to say that? How amazing would it be if they could announce they had surpassed their need?
“It’s sad to think (CBS) needs to beg for it every month. It’s literally in people to give. It helps save people.”
A healthy male can donate every 56 days. A healthy female can donate every 84 days.
There is a push on getting new donors involved.
Canadian Blood Services manages the national supply of blood, blood products and stem cells, and related services for all the provinces and territories (excluding Quebec). It is a not-forprofit charitable organization.
Anyone interested in donating is asked to visit Blood.ca to sign up online. There is also a convenient app which can be used to make an appointment. Appointments can be made by phone at 1-888-2DONATE, or by visiting the clinic in person.