The American Red Cross is urging the public to donate blood as it deals with its worst blood shortage in more than a decade, forcing some hospitals to postpone surgeries including organ transplants, the organization said in a news release.
The Red Cross, which provides about 40 percent of the country’s blood supply has had less than a one-day supply of blood and platelets over the past few weeks, a dangerous decline from its ideal five-day supply.
“Doctors have had to make difficult decisions about who will receive transfusions or wait for more blood to become available,” the Red Cross said. “For accident victims, cancer patients, those with blood disorders like sickle cell disease, and seriously ill patients, medical care cannot wait. Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled and can only be made available through the regular kindness of volunteer donors.”
The number of blood donors has declined by about 10 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood drives have been cancelled and staffing is limited. Winter weather and a surge in COVID cases due to the new Omicron variant have compounded the problem.
Briana Andella, of Tewksbury, began donating blood last year, on a mission to pay back the generosity that benefited her family.
In 2020, before her nephew was even born, doctors discovered he had fetal anemia, meaning he didn’t have enough healthy red blood cells and would need multiple blood transfusions.
Briana’s sister underwent a pair of procedures to give her son two transfusions in utero. After being delivered a month early, he would receive another five transfusions in Tufts Medical Center’s NICU before finally returning home healthy three months later.
Last year, Briana’s sister, grateful for the donors who saved her son’s life, set out to replenish the seven transfusions her baby had received. She would donate blood twice before receiving a call from the Red Cross.
“She was unable to donate anymore due to her antibodies,” Briana said. “So, from there, she called me crying and shared her disbelief. And I told her I’d pick up what she set out to do for 2021.”
Proud aunt Briana stepped in, making appointments and donating blood five times before the end of 2021.
Giving blood hasn’t been easy for Briana, who has myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia – two chronic pain disorders – as well as other health issues.
“If I can do it, anyone can,” she said, pledging to continue donating even after meeting her goal. “It definitely does save people’s lives. It saved my nephew. Without blood donations, I don’t know if he would be here today, to be honest.”
To attract more blood donors, the Red Cross has teamed up with the National Football League. All blood and platelet donors in the month of January will be automatically entered to win one of a few prizes including a trip to the Super Bowl.
To make an appointment to donate blood through the Red Cross or to learn more about the process, click here.
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