News and Events

Without Blood Bank membership, she needed to replace or pay for 49 pints of blood

PICTURED: LaTasha and Aniya

Last June, LaTasha S. of Wilmington, DE almost died giving birth to her daughter Aniya.

PICTURED: LaTasha's daughter, Aniya.

After experiencing heavy bleeding, she had an emergency c-section four weeks before her due date. Aniya was delivered healthy but LaTasha was hemorrhaging severely. Doctors needed to operate and, to keep her alive, transfused her with 49 units of blood.

Because LaTasha and her husband Walt were not Blood Bank members, they needed to pay for the blood she used - or find 49 people to replace it.

While LaTasha was on life support, her family, friends, and the community stepped in to help. Within a few days, they had donated enough blood and Blood Bank donation credits to replace all of the pints of blood she had received.

"My family and I are so appreciative to all those who offered prayers and donations of blood," said LaTasha. "I am so thankful that the Lord has brought me through this. My daughter and I are true miracles. My family donates blood on a regular basis, I can't wait for the day I can start giving back."

PICTURED: Aniya, with her big brother, Walt Jr.

PICTURED: University of Delaware Football Coach K.C. Keeler donating at the 2007 CAA Blood Challenge.

CAA Blood Challenge Slideshow

Newark, DE - After recruiting hundreds of blood donors to give blood in the Blood Bank's biggest one-day blood drive of the year, the University of Delaware hopes it was enough to earn their fifth win in the 7th annual CAA Blood Challenge. UD held the all-day blood drive in the Trabant University Center's multipurpose rooms at 17 West Main Street in Newark on November 12.

The Challenge, which pits the University of Delaware against eleven other schools in the Colonial Athletic Association, requires each college or university to designate one day during the fall to conduct a campus-wide blood drive. The school with the most blood donations wins. UD's final numbers will not be released until all the colleges hold their drives. Last year, UD brought in 678 blood donations.

"This competition is fun, but beyond that... it's inspiring. For more than 12 hours, hundreds of students come in from all over campus and line up to save lives," said Bob Travis, Blood Bank President and CEO. "We are ready to help UD take back first place in the Challenge, and we'll be closing all of our donor centers on Delmarva that day and sending most of our staff to work at the event."

The competition was initiated in 2002 by former UD President, Dr. David Roselle. UD won the first four years of the Challenge but was narrowly defeated by Drexel University for the last two.

The other competing schools include: College of William and Mary; Virginia Commonwealth University; UNC Wilmington; Georgia State University; James Madison University; Old Dominion University; Hofstra University; Drexel University; George Mason University; Towson University; and Northeastern University.

Over the past six years, a total of 14,096 units of blood have been donated at the CAA Blood Challenge, which has helped to save 42,288 lives.

Fran K. of Elkton, Maryland has been a Blood Bank member for about 4 years. He joined to protect his wife and three young children for the cost of replacing the blood they used - if it was ever needed. And then the unthinkable happened.

PICTURED: Fran with his wife, Linda, and 3 children

Fran's wife, Linda, was diagnosed with leukemia in November of 2007. She began aggressive chemotherapy treatments and has needed more than 20 units of platelets and red blood cells since then to survive. Those blood products also helped her recover from a cord blood transplant in July.

"The Blood Bank has saved us in more ways than one," said Fran. "Everything with Linda's health is looking great right now and even though I'm not expecting her to need any other blood transfusions... it's a relief to know we're covered if she does."

"Why do I donate blood so often? Because I have miraculous living proof of how much it's needed," said Eunice P. of Wilmington, Delaware.

Eunice's grandson, Hunter, was born three months early on May 10, 2008. He weighed just 2 pounds, 5 ounces.

Even though he was basically healthy, he was still vulnerable and needed daily blood tests in the hospital to check his status and test for infection. His tiny body lost several vials of blood a week, depleting his system and making him weak and pale. But blood transfusions helped him bounce back and grow healthier each day. In fact, even as he was being transfused, you could see his color returning. He was able to go home to his family in July.

PICTURED: Hunter at 6 months old.

What do you do for your community? Do you coach the local kids in sports? Or does the thought of being surrounded by dozens of kids (and their victory hungry parents) scare you? Are you a member of your local volunteer fire department? Not into Bingo Night?

Well, I have an easy job for you. All you have to do is sit there and let some one else fuss over you. You get to watch TV and there are cookies when you are done. No, there's no catch. Well, maybe a little one; I'd like you to give blood.

The Eagle Group is one of the 2300+ businesses and organizations that have joined the Blood Bank of Delmarva. That means we all have the option to join the blood bank. Five dollars a year and you are covered in case you or your family needs blood. But just joining is not enough. The blood bank needs your blood. More than 75,000 blood donations are needed in this area each year for more than 20,000 patients across the Delmarva Peninsula. There are 370 blood donors needed every day for patients at hospitals on Delmarva. There are 4 donor centers (Newark, DE, Wilmington, DE, Dover, DE and Salisbury, MD) and 27 convenient donor sites located throughout Delmarva.

Blood does not store for very long. Red blood cells, used for traumas, have a 42-day shelf life. Platelets, the clotting element in the blood that is used for cancer and leukemia patients, have a shelf life of 5 days. Plasma, which is mainly used for burn victims, has a shelf life of one year.

I give blood. I have donated over 6 gallons (one pint at a time) over the years as just a regular donor, then as a Lifesaver and now as a platelet donor I have given 10 more times. The actual time it takes to give a pint of blood is only 5 to 10 minutes but the whole time invested (from you coming in the door until you go out the door) is about an hour. There is the mini physical and the questions (yes they ask them every time) before the actual donation and then the time afterwards spent in the canteen enjoying the cookies. During the donation process, you can watch TV with your feet up. Giving platelets will take about 2 hours, door to door.

Yeah, OK, I have not mentioned how they do it. Well, they do have to get blood from you and a punch in the nose is just not efficient. The needle in your arm is like a little pinch and then the pain is done. Don't dwell on it, just watch the TV or joke with the technicians. Think of me, I have one in each arm when I give the platelets and that takes more than the 10 minutes. I can't even scratch my nose for an hour.

I know some of you don't like needles, but there are more of you who are not bothered by them. Think of the people who need the blood; if someone you know needed it, wouldn't you want it to be available? I was glad it was there when I was 19 and got burned in a truck accident. I guess you could say I am paying it back.

When I first joined, the blood bank called you about every 36 months. The need has gone up and now the membership requirement is for you to give every 18 to 24 months. You can give blood more often and accumulate credits that can be saved or transferred to other members who are unable to give. Whole blood can be given every 56 days (8 weeks), while platelets can be given every 14 days (I go once a month, after work). They usually take plasma (28 days) when you donate platelets. Double red blood cells (112 days) are not donated in Dover so I don't know about them.

When there is a need outside of our area, the blood bank can and does send needed blood, like to Houston because of Hurricane Ike. Most of it is used right here at these hospitals:
A.I. duPont Hospital for Children
Atlantic General Hospital
Bayhealth Medical Center - Dover
Bayhealth Medical Center - Milford
Beebe Medical Center
Chester River Hospital
Christiana Hospital
Dorchester General Hospital
Easton Memorial Hospital
McCready Memorial Hospital
Nanticoke Memorial Hospital
Peninsula Regional Medical Center
St. Francis Hospital
Union Hospital
V.A. Hospital - Elsmere
V.A. Hospital - Perry Point
Wilmington Hospital

Call (302) 737-8400 or (888) 825-6638 and make an appointment.
Be a quiet hero and give blood. For our community.

- By David Schucker, Dover, DE

FISHING FOR DONORS, HOOKED ON SAVING LIVES

WHERE:
Ocean City Convention Center
4001 Coastal Highway

WHEN:
Tuesday, January 27, 10am - 6pm
Wednesday, January 28, 9am - 5pm

Slideshow and stats from last year's event!

Press Release for Event

Call to make your appointment to give blood at the 11th annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive today!
1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE.

DOWNLOADABLE FLYER