Donor Stories
Lia’s Story: Giving and Receiving
By Lia Adams, guest blogger, Milestone blood donor and plasma recipient Medical Background When I was a kid, we didn’t know I had a primary immune deficiency. All we knew was that I got sick more often than average, sometimes with...
Megan’s Story: Saving Lives in Her Grandfather’s Memory
In late 2016, Megan Fernandez’s grandfather was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer that originates in bone marrow, where blood cells are made. In the process of battling cancer and receiving treatment, it was necessary that her grandfather...
Jared’s Story: The Domino Effect of COVID-19
Roughly three weeks before any social distancing regulations were instituted in the Bay Area, back when local COVID-19 cases were few and seemingly contained, Kendra Nash went on a long-anticipated ski trip with 11 of her close friends. What was...
Julie’s Story: Loving Daughter, Dedicated Donor
At just 19 years old, Julie Cruzal’s world was shaken when, for the first time that she could remember, it was her own hero — her mom — who needed saving. On that fateful day, Julie witnessed the terrifying consequences...
John’s CCP Story: A Unique Opportunity to Give Back
John Tallarida has been an active and passionate blood donor for most of his adult life. When John was only about nine years old, his father was hit by a tractor rig in a devastating accident, after which the doctors...
Recovered COVID-19 Patient Meets CCP Donor Who May Have Saved His Life
This summer, Stanford Blood Center (SBC) and LifeServe Blood Center brought together two very special heroes. Shanti Minkstein, a photographer from San Francisco, California, and Lance Becker, a banker from Des Moines, Iowa, joined a Zoom call to discuss their...
Robert’s CCP Story: Spreading the Word
As a pilot, Robert Jendrey is always on the go. And while typically having the ability to travel around the world is considered a great luxury, when the COVID-19 pandemic was in its infancy and suspicion of global transmission was...
Andrew’s Story: Fighting Back With COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
In early March, COVID-19, while present in San Mateo County, was still reported to be a low health risk to the general public. In fact, the first case of unknown origin in the county had just been identified March 2....
Chuck’s Story: A Lifesaving Legacy
If you’re a regular at our South Bay Center, you may know one of our dedicated platelet donors, Chuck Fannin. Standing at 6’10” and wearing bright pink high-top basketball shoes, Chuck never misses an opportunity to give his three bags...