NICOLE’S STORY: FIGHTING APLASTIC ANEMIA WITH “LITTLE BAGS OF LIFE”

In May of 2013, Nicole Porto was thriving in all aspects of life. She had built up a life for herself that she was proud of. Physically, she had been training for the Brooklyn Half Marathon and felt extremely strong; socially, she had a great group of friends in her home of New York; and professionally, she was chasing her dreams, working in marketing and social responsibility for a diamond company who prided themselves on giving back to the communities within Africa that mined precious metals and stones.

In June of 2013, just weeks after an impressive finish in the Brooklyn Half Marathon, Nicole knew that something was off. She had been feeling tired for weeks, though she hadn’t let that bother her, as she chalked it up to the long hours preparing for her race as well as a large industry event she had been preparing for in June. It was at the event, however, that she noticed not only was she tired, but also she was badly bruising…

Blood Donation: How it Works

Before your appointment:

• Always be sure to drink plenty of water before donating blood!
• Eat an iron-rich meal. Eating enough iron is essential to ensuring that your hemoglobin level is right for donating. You can check out some tips on getting enough iron here.
• Bring your donor ID. If you have a donor ID, be sure to bring it with you to your appointment. First-time donors or returning donors without a donor ID card should bring a valid state-issued photo identification.

Avoid alcohol and fatty foods for 24 hours, and aspirin (if donating platelets) for 48 hours, before your donation.

The Donation Process

Congratulations, you made an appointment to donate blood and save lives! So what happens now? There are four basic steps to every blood donation:

1. Registration
2. Medical History
3. Donation
4. Rest & Refreshments

After your blood donation:

Please call our post-donation callback line at (650) 725-9968 immediately if you:

• feel that your blood should not be given to a patient;
• are not sure that your blood is safe;
• develop a fever within 24 hours after donating;
• have any illness within two weeks of your donation; or
• are diagnosed by a physician as having West Nile, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, or Ebola virus Infection.

Where does my blood go?

Learn about the life of blood through a new donor’s eye.

It’s my first time donating blood. I walk into Stanford Blood Center (SBC) and I don’t know what to expect. I am a bit nervous because I’m not a big fan of needles, but I know I’m doing this for a good cause. I am greeted by the front desk staff and registered as a new donor with SBC. After completing a brief questionnaire about my health, lifestyle, and recent travel, I sit down with a technician who goes over the blood donation process with me.