BLOOD DONOR TRIED TO SAVE LIVES - BUT GOT NEWS THAT SAVED HER OWN
PICTURED: Judy G. (on right) with family
38-year-old Judy G. has been a Blood Bank LifeSaver donor since high school. For two decades, her blood donations have saved countless lives. But during her visit to give blood in May of 2007, Judy got news that ultimately saved her own life.
It all started when she had her iron levels checked before donating.
"I'll never forget what the phlebotomist told me," Judy said. "Her exact words were 'your iron levels are WAY off.' She told me I couldn't donate that day, which was the first time I was ever deferred for having low iron."
About a month later, Judy contracted pneumonia. Even with antibiotics, she was not recovering. Judy remembered what the Blood Bank phlebotomist told her about her iron levels and mentioned it to her doctor. The doctor was instantly suspicious and sent her for blood work.
The results were devastating - Judy had Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. But because she was able to catch the leukemia early, Judy responded quickly to her treatment. She was in remission just 10 months after being diagnosed.
"I call this divine intervention. Because I stopped in to donate blood that day, I got health information that alerted my doctor to the problem early. Blood Bank of Delmarva truly saved my life."
