Packard Children’s, Stanford Blood Center to Hold Feb. 13 Valentine’s Blood Drive

February, 2009
Attention News Desk: Press Release (for immediate release)
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Stanford Blood Center:
Brooke Krannich (650) 723-8270 or (205) 540-1569
krannich@stanford.edu
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital:
Todd Kleinheinz (650) 725-9666
tkleinheinz@lpch.org

STANFORD, Calif. —The staff at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital knows first-hand the importance of blood donations and have joined forces with Stanford Blood Center to host a Valentine-themed blood drive on Friday, February 13, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the hospital school on the third floor.

Every blood donor will receive a T-shirt featuring artwork from a child at Packard Children’s, and will also have the opportunity to create a Valentine’s Day card for a young patient. “We hope the Valentine cards will put smiles on patients’ faces in the short-term, and the blood donations will provide hope and life in the long-term,” said Susan Morris, the Blood Center’s recruitment manager.

Like many other patients at Packard Children’s, Vanessa Williams, 18, (picured at right) needed a laundry list of blood products during her heart transplant surgery. “It took about 40 blood donors to achieve the miracle that is Vanessa Williams,” said Mary Burge, a licensed clinical social worker for Packard. Burge noted that 17 units of red blood cells, six units of plasma, four units of platelets, and one pool of cryoprecipitate (made from roughly 10 donors) were needed to support Williams’ life during her surgery. At a recent follow-up visit, just two weeks after surgery, she was eager to hop off the exam table and get back to her life as a young adult. Gifted with a powerful singing voice, she can now pursue dreams of performing because of 40 strangers who gave blood.

“This hospital makes medical miracles happen every day, and we feel privileged to be part of those miracles,” said Morris. “It takes the help of countless volunteer blood donors to ensure these children are given a second chance—to have the rest of their lives given back to them.”

Donors can call (650) 723-7831 or toll-free (888) 723-7831 to make an appointment and get directions. Donors should be in good health with no cold or flu symptoms. They must eat well prior to donation, drink fluids and present photo identification at the time of donation. The process takes about an hour. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is located at 725 Welch Road in Palo Alto, CA.

For more information or to schedule an appointment online, please visit https://bloodcenter-stg.stanford.edu.

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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.

Ranked as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S.News & World Report and Child magazine, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford is a 272-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children’s offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services — from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit http://www.lpch.org.