#WhyIGiveBlood

Los Gatos Friends 'Thicker Than Blood'

By Bonnie Westman with the Los Gatos Patch.

Since 2006, Linda Swenberg and Michelle Abene donate platelets at Stanford Blood Center, in addition to significant volunteer work in the community.

Why would someone voluntarily give up two and half hours of their time every few months to be pricked by a needle, have blood drawn from their body causing discomfort as platelets are spun out and then watch the vital fluid returned to their person?

Because the precious gift could save a person's life, according to Los Gatos residents Linda Swenberg and Michelle Abene.

These sister friends have been donating platelets regularly at Stanford for several years—their contribution considered an important tool medical doctors have to help those undergoing treatment for serious health problems such as leukemia and cancer.
Swenberg has been donating since the late 1990s.

At first, she began her selfless act thinking that it was a good thing to do for others, while at the same time having a little bit of time off from her busy life at home with three young children.

Then a dear friend of hers was diagnosed with leukemia. The true importance of donating hit her hard when she found out that she was a match for her friend, so she started donating more often.

When Abene moved to Los Gatos in 2005, she didn’t know anyone. She met Swenberg and they quickly became good friends.

Soon after meeting, Swenberg asked Abene if she wanted to join her at Stanford. Abene said yes and they have been donation buddies ever since. After the procedure, the women often treat themselves to a nice lunch.

“Basically it takes a whole day by the time you drive up to Stanford, donate, have lunch and drive home, yet we have been doing it for years and enjoy the experience every time,” says Abene.

“I look forward to donating because it is time to relax, it is a very positive experience and the staff at Stanford takes good care of you,” says Swenberg.

While there, the women say they are surrounded by people who are doing good for others and feel special participating. Abene calls it a “reward for having a healthy life.”

Click here to read the full article on the Los Gatos Patch website.

#WhyIGiveBlood: So Patients Can Live More Comfortable Lives

By Melissa Ramos, volunteer guest-blogger for Stanford Blood Center

John Paul Mayor is one of our very regular platelet donors. For our #WhyIGiveBlood campaign, we picked his brain about what inspired him to become a regular donor.

John Paul, or “JP” as he is known, started donating whole blood as a high school student in 2000, but it was not until he was 23 that he became inspired to be a regular donor. Through Team in Training, he had the opportunity to meet patients with blood cancers. Some might be content having raised over $7,000 for blood cancer research, but not him. He became a regular blood donor, knowing that these donations will help those patients live comfortably and normally. When he learned about donating platelets, and that he was eligible for this type of donation, he jumped at the opportunity and has become a regular fixture at our Centers since.

JP knows a thing or two about donations and has some tips to share:

• He prefers to donate on Mondays at Hillview, when he gets free movie tickets
• Staying hydrated leading up to your appointment helps speed up your donation time.
• Wearing a zippered hoodie will keep you warm and won’t get in the way during your donation.

JP has become a close friend of the staff at SBC. Not only does he make time to donate between his two jobs, but he has been known to show up with a home-made chocolate mousse cake covered in ganache from time to time.

What has inspired you to become a regular donor? Share your story with us!

#WhyIGiveBlood: Because of My Dad

Many of our donors have unique stories about why they started giving blood. Through our #WhyIGiveBlood campaign, we are taking the opportunity to highlight some of them as an inspiration for others. This first piece in the series is by Tami Turner, a long-time, dedicated SBC blood donor.

My father is the reason I'm a 300+ unit donor. I grew up in the hills above Peninsula Hospital, for which my father was an on-call whole blood donor. He had AB blood, and would be called sometimes in the middle of the night to go down and donate.
When he died prematurely in 1985, it occurred to me that we were losing a whole generation of donors from WWII & Korean War eras, and that I needed to step up to the plate!

So it began, my donations at Peninsula Blood Center (in front of the hospital), Irwin Memorial, Sacramento Medical Foundation (now BloodSource), Blood Bank of the Redwoods, and currently here at Stanford Blood Center where I have a date every other Tuesday with my friends on Welch Road. :)

You can imagine how happy and proud I was when my 15 year old daughter came to me inquiring if she too could donate. At 17, she began her donations journey in Santa Rosa and continues today in Sacramento.

I think as parents it isn't always what we say, as it is what we do, that influences our children the most. I miss my dad so much, but in this act, I feel connected to him, and that makes me happy.

If you would like to have your story featured with us, please click on the "E-mail us a story suggestion" link to the right. We would love to hear from you!