12/6/04

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michele Hyndman at (650) 723-7831 or (650) 799-9885, ( )

STANFORD BLOOD CENTER OFFERS UNIQUE THANK YOU TO HOLIDAY BLOOD DONORS

STANFORD, Calif. – People who donate blood at the Stanford Blood Center through Jan. 8 will receive a T-shirt, designed by a patient at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, as a thank-you gift. The artwork on the T-shirt consists of a collage hand and a corresponding poem. People are asked to "Lend a hand – Donate blood!"

Stanford Blood Center contacted the hospital's Healing HeARTs Project for the T-shirt artwork. "We understand that people are busy this time of year, but hospital patients continue to need blood during the holidays. That's why we want to offer our blood donors a thank-you gift designed by a patient during a critical donation period," said Michele Hyndman, spokeswoman for the blood center.

The poem reads, "The hand that helps me when I fall. The hand that helps me when I call. The hand that is there when I cry. The hand that helps me reach the sky. This hand is very special to me. I will never forget thee!"

While patients continue to need blood during the holidays, shortages exist this time of year because there are few blood drives and regular blood donors often are too busy to donate.

Normally, approximately 50 percent of blood is collected on mobile blood drives, but the Stanford Blood Center has only four blood drives scheduled between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3. "In addition to vacations and a busy schedule of holiday activities that keep people away, most companies close down for the week of Christmas," said Doreen Leith, mobile blood drive supervisor for the blood center "We have to find a way to make up the difference."

Eligible donors in good health with no cold or flu symptoms are urged to make an appointment to give blood. They must eat well prior to donating, drink fluids and present photo ID at the time of donation. For more information, including updated maps and hours, or to schedule an appointment, please visit http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu or call (888) 723-7831 or (650) 723-7831.

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Healing HeARTs is an art and writing program for hospitalized children at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Their mission is to encourage and support the creative expressions of children at LPCH, to build pride and self-esteem in children at LPCH by displaying their creations and to increase community awareness of issues surrounding the hospitalization and illnesses of children.

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Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions – Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.