Author Archives for Stanford Blood Center

A Global Celebration of Blood Donors

June 14, 2012 10:29 am Published by Comments Off on A Global Celebration of Blood Donors



Thumbnail image for Human Blood Drop 2.jpg

By Dayna Myers, Marketing Communications Manager, Stanford Blood Center

Around the world today, nations will celebrate blood donors in honor of World Blood Donor Day. In Iran, a trio of cyclists will wind up a 17-day challenge ride from the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization in Tehran to the Ankara Blood Bank. Nigeria's Health Minister marked the occasion by donating blood in Abuja. And in Korea, this year's host country, the celebration began in February, when over 3,000 people donned red and broke the Guinness World Record for the world's largest human blood drop formation.


Preventing a Summer Blood Shortage

June 12, 2012 1:29 pm Published by Comments Off on Preventing a Summer Blood Shortage



By Harpreet Sandhu, Administrator, Stanford Blood Center

Jim Early is an extraordinarily dedicated blood donor. One of our "frequent flyers," he has logged over 300 donations with Stanford Blood Center. He even keeps the Blood Center in mind when he plans his summer travel, because travel to malarial risk zones (such as India, parts of Mexico, and parts of Costa Rica) can lead to a one-year deferral from donating blood.


Apheresis Granulocytes

June 6, 2012 3:41 pm Published by Comments Off on Apheresis Granulocytes



By Dr. Chris Gonzalez, Assistant Medical Director, Stanford Blood Center

Apheresis granulocytes are a specialized blood product comprised largely of white blood cells. This product is used in patients with very low white cell counts that have life threatening infections that have not responded to antibiotic therapy. In some patients this is truly their last hope for survival.


A Little Extra Giving Goes a Long Way

May 31, 2012 3:33 pm Published by Comments Off on A Little Extra Giving Goes a Long Way



Thumbnail image for Colette Case.jpg

By Julie Ruel, Social Media Manager, Stanford Blood Center

Earlier this year, we added a new option to our online store, offering donors a unique way of spending the points they earn through their donations. In addition to the usual thank-you gifts such as apparel, athletic gear, and coupons, donors had the opportunity to donate their points to help support Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) and The Safe Blood Africa Project.


5,300 Year Old RBCs

May 25, 2012 10:11 am Published by Comments Off on 5,300 Year Old RBCs



Iceman RBC.jpg

By Billie Rubin, Hemoglobin's Catabolic Cousin, reporting from the labs of Stanford Blood Center

In 1991, a couple hiking through the Italian Alps noticed something curious buried in the ice. What was assumed to have been the body of a fallen hiker, probably from a few years back, turned out to be "a 20th century archaeological sensation". The remains were 5300 years old from a man who became known as Oetzi, a.k.a. The Iceman.


SBC heart mark logo

Liquid Life

May 21, 2012 1:56 pm Published by Comments Off on Liquid Life

For as long as I can remember, my dad would come home every couple of months with a pint of ice cream and a bright red bandage around his arm. I was always happy to see the ice cream, as well as my dad, of course. But it wasn't until I was older that I found out why he got the ice cream. As both he and Baskin-Robbins like to call it, it was "A Pint for A Pint". For every pint of blood that my dad donated, he would receive a Baskin Robbins coupon for a pint of ice cream in return.


#WhyIGiveBlood: It Supports the V.A. Hospital

May 15, 2012 11:40 am Published by Comments Off on #WhyIGiveBlood: It Supports the V.A. Hospital



By Roland Keffer, Stanford Blood Center donor

I began giving blood with the Red Cross in 1960. My boss had cancer and the whole company would go down and donate blood in his name. He survived a year or so, and after he died, I still continued to give blood.


A Blossoming Community Blood Drive

May 8, 2012 12:11 pm Published by Comments Off on A Blossoming Community Blood Drive



Midge and Randy Zylker.JPG

By Monica Doleshel-Aguirre, Blood Drive Account Manager, Stanford Blood Center

Midge Zylker had a goal to start a community blood drive in her Rose Garden neighborhood to make it convenient for the residents to donate blood on a regular basis.


#WhyIGiveBlood: 300 Donations and Counting

April 26, 2012 11:59 am Published by Comments Off on #WhyIGiveBlood: 300 Donations and Counting



Jim.jpg

By Jim Early, 300-time blood donor
Above, Jim (with nurse, Raquel Morgia, sneaking in a smile) stands beside a quilt his wife made from his collection of SBC t-shirts.

When I was twenty-two I was sick with an intestinal disease. In a month's time I went from healthy to hospital patient and for the next seven weeks I lived in the Old Hoover Pavilion Stanford Hospital. I ate nothing by mouth and instead received all my nutrition from IVs into my arms and eventually via a central line. A year later I was back again and after another three weeks opted for corrective surgery. After some major surgery, a few revisions, and many units of blood, (during and post op) I was healthy again. While being treated I thought very little about where the blood came from or who was giving it, I just wanted to feel better.


Chronic illness in childhood: One patient’s story

April 24, 2012 11:13 am Published by Comments Off on Chronic illness in childhood: One patient’s story



Rahman-Humphries-Hodge-Eagle-Scout-Portrait-225x300.jpg

By Erin Digitale, Writer for Stanford School of Medicine's Communications & Public Affairs Department

Rahman Humphries was trying to pass a 100-yard swimming test on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. He dreamed of achieving the highest award that the Boy Scouts offer, but he was struggling to make the distance.