SBC Stories

SBC Stories connects blood donors and patients though storytelling, with new weekly articles on our blog, HemoBLOGin, featured patient stories and videos, and publications. Our patient stories inspire and move us to be of service the most vulnerable in our community, and our donor stories illustrate the many ways donors make a difference in patients’ lives every day.

HemoBLOGin — The Stanford Blood Center Blog (Read All)

Ten-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Holds Blood Drive at School

By Julie Peachey, Public Relations Officer We first introduced you to young Hadley in January 2021 when she was just six years old and a year into her treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Hadley had started kindergarten in the fall of 2019 when she began experiencing pain in her legs, causing her to limp and…

Stanford Blood Center Implements Individual Donor Assessment for Blood Donation

As of Thursday, October 19, Stanford Blood Center (SBC) has implemented the updated FDA blood donation guidelines, which eliminate questions based on sexual orientation. We look forward to welcoming those who may be newly eligible to support local patients through blood donation. Stanford Blood Center is committed to achieving an inclusive blood donation process that...

The Web’s Most Asked Questions: What Do Blood Donations Get Tested For?

Blood donations are subject to a battery of tests that play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the blood supply. These tests are designed to identify diseases that can potentially be transmitted through blood transfusions. Among the well-known pathogens that are screened for are hepatitis and HIV. However, there are lesser-known threats like…

Patient Stories (Read All)

Ten-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Holds Blood Drive at School

By Julie Peachey, Public Relations Officer We first introduced you to young Hadley in January 2021 when she was just six years old and a year into her treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Hadley had started kindergarten in the fall of 2019 when she began experiencing pain in her legs, causing her to limp and…

Michael’s Story: The Heart to Carry On

By Samantha Baker, Communications Strategist One early morning in 1997, 35-year-old Monterey Peninsula resident Michael V. had difficulty sleeping due to an unusual feeling. “My heart was pounding away as if it was going to come out of my chest,” he said. He called for his wife, who rushed over to him. Michael looked at…

Amber’s Story: An Avid Blood Donor’s Experience “on the Receiving End”

“I’ve been a regular blood donor my whole adult life, and I’ve been humbled to be on the receiving end for a change.”   Amber Kerr is many things. A scholar, a university lecturer, a world traveler, a mother of three, an avid blood donor — and, as of late last year, a blood recipient….

Donor Stories (Read All)

A Mother’s Mission: Tabitha’s Commitment to Donating Blood for Others

By Samantha Baker, Communications Strategist Bay Area local Tabitha Jackson knows firsthand the vital importance of a stable and readily available blood supply for those in need. Her son, who had five congenital heart defects resulting in three open heart surgeries before the age of 5, became the driving force behind her decision to donate…

A Surprising Discovery: How One Blood Donation Led to Early Cancer Diagnosis

By Samm Baker, Communications Strategist Donating blood is a simple, selfless act that can profoundly impact someone's life who needs blood. However, for Katie Dean, blood donation impacted her life unexpectedly on the day she decided to donate. In 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Katie, the Administrative Director of Business Operations &...

Valerie McGuire: Reflecting on 400 Donations

Here at SBC, we love celebrating our incredible milestone donors and their impact on helping support patients in our community. One of those heroes is Valerie McGuire, who recently made her 400th milestone donation. Public Relations Officer Ross Coyle interviewed the Menlo Park resident about what inspires her to donate and what keeps her coming back…

Team SBC Stories (Read All)

Wendy Leong: 50 Years on Team SBC!

By Samm Baker, Communications Strategist Throughout her remarkable 50-year journey with Stanford, Wendy Leong has exemplified unwavering dedication as an integral part of the Histocompatibility Laboratory. During her tenure, she has been a firsthand witness (and integral part of) to the laboratory’s evolution, from its early days as the Tissue Typing Laboratory to its current…

SBC Team Member Phillip Martin Is “Loyal to the Soil”

By Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist, and Phillip Martin, SBC Account Manager The below article was originally published in September 2020, when Phillip Martin, SBC Account Manager, was an active volunteer firefighter. We are republishing this article in early 2023 to celebrate Phillip’s retirement from the force last year after 15 years of service to the…

Felicia’s Story: A Father’s Day Gift Like No Other

We hope everyone had a very happy Father’s Day! It’s one of life’s joys to be able to spend quality time with your family on special occasions. Our Marketing and Communications Specialist, Felicia Gonsalves, knows first-hand the impact blood donors have on patients’ lives. She shares her story of how her family came awfully close…

SBC Volunteer Stories (Read All)

Dan and John’s Story: Building Community Through Service

In honor of National Best Friends Day this year, we interviewed two of our most dedicated SBC volunteers: Dan Rhoads and John Henry. Though their backgrounds are in some ways quite opposite (“yin and yang,” as they say), the two met and have formed a strong bond, largely through their joint commitment to blood donation…

Closer to Home: When Blood Donation Gets Personal

When Rachel Ren* was a junior, she was thrilled at the opportunity to give blood at her high school’s SBC mobile drive. Rachel had never had an experience with blood donation before — never had a family member need blood that she could remember, never needed blood herself — but she felt called to help….

Volunteer Spotlight — Jennifer Harris

It’s time for your winter Volunteer Spotlight! Stanford Blood Center (SBC) is incredibly thankful for our volunteers, who play a very important role in our health care community. It is our pleasure to introduce one of our wonderful helpers, Jennifer Harris.   Why do you volunteer at SBC? I believe in the importance of volunteering…