Donor Stories

By Praveen Gurunath Bharathi My journey as a blood donor began with a personal family emergency. Years ago, my uncle in India needed blood for his heart surgery. I remember feeling apprehensive at first, unsure if I would even be eligible to donate due to my weight. But I decided to try, and it was…

Amy Malvase hadn’t given much thought to the idea of blood donation until spending time at her dad’s side during his treatment for a gastrointestinal bleed. He struggled with low hemoglobin, requiring several blood transfusions. “There was one time when he needed a more urgent transfusion,” she recalls. “We were so fortunate that the blood…

Annie Shiau’s journey as a blood donor began when she was just 16 as an American living overseas in Taipei. Back then, she would often pass by the bloodmobiles and feel a pull to help, but because she wasn’t a resident, she wasn’t eligible to donate. “As a teenager, I wanted to help, so it…

Many of our donors have a personal motivation behind donating blood. Julie Fogarty, from a closely connected family with a unique medical history, exemplifies this. Here, she recounts her family’s enduring struggle with leukemia, spanning three generations, and her deep gratitude for blood donors whose generosity helped extend her relatives’ lives. By Julie Fogarty My…

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…

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 &...

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…

By Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist When most people give blood, they do so without even a hint as to who or what type of patient could be on the receiving end, and they rarely have the opportunity to give to the same patient twice. Many of our blood donors have embraced this extreme anonymity, and…

By Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist While most folks associate Stanford with Palo Alto, at SBC, the nature of blood collection means we need to be tapped into communities throughout the Bay Area. One of the most significant ways we’re able to connect with individuals and ultimately make donating possible for many people is via our…

What does your 200th blood donation mean to you? Two hundred donations represent 25 Gallons! I’ve contributed a valued, tangible resource that can perhaps further research, education or life-saving medical treatment, and that feels great! What led you to donate blood the first time? I first donated blood upon accepting an acquaintance’s invitation to participate…

If you’re a donor, you probably know that platelets help to induce clotting and control bleeding and are needed for local patients. Unfortunately, most cancer treatments cause low blood counts, so patients often require life-saving blood products during treatment. Donating platelets is a great way to support cancer patients in our community, especially those treated for leukemia…

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors and the impact they’ve had on helping support patients in our community. Bob Berends recently made his 400th milestone donation at the Mountain View center. Public Relations Officer Ross Coyle interviewed the San Jose resident about what inspires him to donate and what keeps him…

Our milestone donors are the heartbeat of SBC. From time-to-time, we like to give a special shout-out to those who have gone above and beyond to help support patients in need. Gary Cooper recently made his 400th milestone donation at our South Bay center. Our Public Relations Officer, Ross Coyle, interviewed the San Jose resident about…

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors and the impact they’ve had on helping support patients in our community. Gail Brian recently made her 400th milestone donation. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the Menlo Park resident about what inspires her to donate and what keeps her coming back all these years….

Did you know that patients across the U.S. require nearly 10,000 units of plasma every day? Plasma is the yellow liquid portion of the blood in which the red cells, white cells and platelets are suspended. It contains numerous proteins and enzymes that play many different roles in your body. One of the roles is to help induce clotting…

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…

Balaji Iyer recently made his 100th milestone blood donation at our Mountain View center — a moment he had hoped to share with someone very special. Unfortunately, illness delayed his 16-year-old daughter Satvika from making her very first donation that same day. But sometimes things have a funny way of working out. Satvika finally got a…

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors and the impact they’ve had on helping support patients in our community. Glenys Chow recently made her 200th donation at our Mountain View center. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the Mountain View resident about what inspires her to donate blood and what keeps her…

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors and the impact they’ve had on helping support patients in our community. Stan Jensen recently made his 600th donation at our Menlo Park center. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the Pacifica resident about what inspires him to donate blood and what keeps him coming…

Jan. 31, 1947–Nov. 13, 2021   Stanford Blood Center (SBC) is honoring the legacy of an incredible member of our community, Midge Zylker, who passed away late last year. Midge was Blood Drive Coordinator for the Rose Garden Community Blood Drives, and was instrumental in establishing the Willow Glen Community Blood Drive and the Zanotto’s…

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors and the impact they’ve had on helping support patients in our community. Brian Smith recently made his 600th donation. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the Mountain View resident about what inspires him to donate blood and what keeps him coming back all these years….

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors. Anthony Flores recently made his 400th donation at the South Bay center. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the San Jose resident about what inspires him to donate blood and what keeps him coming back all these years.   What does your 400th blood donation mean…

“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….

By Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist Brad Hart is a fifth-generation medical professional and comes from a history of medical innovation. His great, great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Hart, was an OBGYN; his great grandfather, Arch Coombs Hart, was a practicing dentist, and one of the first  to lecture that tooth decay was caused by bacteria; his...

By Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist, with contributions from donors Cheryl Basinger, Brian Edwards and Audrey Gold When asked if we want to help save lives, the answer will, of course, be a resounding yes. And even when we’re asked to give blood, we may be game to sign up for an initial appointment, too. But,...

Currently, more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant and, every 10 minutes, another person is added to the transplant waitlist.[1] On a daily basis, SBC supports organ donation through our HLA lab, which performs tests to detect things like donor-recipient compatibility and early transplant success/failure; and, with the help of our donors,...

Growing up, Lily Shih said she never really gave blood donation any thoughts. “I’m Chinese and it just wasn’t a big part of our culture,” she said. It wasn’t until adulthood when her mom was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease and needed transfusions of her own that Lily understood the importance of transfusion. From…

Earlier this year, milestone donor Audrey Gold had a very special donation appointment. At the same time that she gave her 164th donation at Stanford Blood Center, her 16-year-old son, Evan, gave his very first. Audrey has been donating blood for over 30 years. Her first experience with donation was back in college, when her…

By Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist Ernest Boyd has been giving blood for decades. What started as a way to save the lives of others, however, has saved his own life multiple times.   Becoming a Platelet Donor Ernest first really committed to giving blood in the early 1990s. Though he had donated one or two…

Last year, donor Ben Brian hit an incredible milestone with SBC: his 500th donation. When asked what motivates him to give blood, among the usual answer of service to others and the free cookies, Ben mentioned that he has been consistently motivated by the dedication of his wife, Gail. Gail is also a milestone donor,…

Dr. Sam P. Most, Chief of the Division of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford Health Care (SHC) and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, is not only an accomplished and beloved member of the Stanford community; he is also a dedicated husband in his familial life and a very health, very active…

Have you visited the “Store” tab on your donor portal lately? As a reminder, each donation you make earns you points,* which can be used to redeem items — or donate to other organizations — in the Donor Loyalty Store (DLS) on sbcdonor.org. Store Items The DLS features gifts for all price points, from our…

By Brian Edwards, guest blogger and Milestone donor When I was coming upon my 500th blood donation, I was asked, “What inspires you to give blood?” In answer to this question, there are five main points that come to mind: My parents instilling in me the value of contributing to community Some close connections to...

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 unusual infections. Nothing life-threatening; I just took a lot more sick days from school than…

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 receive blood transfusions every week. While the diagnosis was predictably difficult for her entire family,…

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 intended to be a relaxing getaway, however, became the center of an intricate web of…

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 of a medical condition her mom was experiencing that impacted her blood supply, unbeknownst to…

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 reported that he had only a five percent chance of surviving. Though this was an…

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 experiences as COVID-19 survivors. They had never met before, but they share a bond that…

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 low, increased travel could prove to be dangerous. It was in early March, before any…

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. So, when Andrew Armstrong, a healthy and athletic father of two young boys, began experiencing…

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 of platelets to help patients in need. His personal connection to giving blood, from both…

Battalion Chief Joe Novelli has been a firefighter in San Mateo county for roughly 33 years. Having worked through many dangerous fires and emergency situations, Joe is no stranger to saving lives of individuals in the community. Now, after becoming the first firefighter in the county to be diagnosed with and eventually recover from COVID-19,…

By Rick Singer, guest blogger and COVID-19 convalescent plasma donor I know we’re all feeling it. I know we’re all cooped up, messed up and uptight. But I am also painfully aware that, as worn out as we all are during the biggest human crisis of our lifetimes, there are very real strides being taken,…

In late February, Belmont resident Fred van den Haak gave his 600th blood donation with Stanford Blood Center. Though currently in his 70s, Fred has been a dedicated blood donor and highly service-oriented since he was young. “My first donation was a very interesting one,” Fred recalled. As a young man, he had enlisted in…

In early March, law enforcement officer Steve Vega was experiencing the early stages of what he thought to be a cold — cough, sore throat, chills, etc. But after two weeks of progressively worsening symptoms and a doctor’s visit that revealed early signs of pneumonia, what he had been seeing plastered all over the news…

Stanford Blood Center milestone donors are an extremely dedicated group, with all milestone donors having given blood at SBC at least 100 times. Ron Mancini hit his 400th donation milestone at our Menlo Park center last month. In celebration, Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed Ron about his motivation and experiences with giving blood. What does…

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors. Earlier this month, Tom Welch made his 600th donation at the South Bay center. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the San Jose resident about what inspires him to donate blood and what keeps him coming back all these years. What does your 600th blood donation…

In June, David Polnaszek hit a special milestone with Stanford Blood Center when he made his 600th blood donation at our Menlo Park donor center. The 73-year-old Portola Valley resident has been doing his part to help save countless lives long before iPhones and even color TV… a conscious decision that was inspired by his hero. “Donating blood…

In 1989, I was the victim of a serious motorcycle accident. My left leg and hip were seriously injured – I suffered from a broken hip socket, compound fractures of my tibia and fibula, and other issues. I spent a miserable month in the hospital before having to learn to walk again. Through all of…

By Bruce Anderson, guest blogger When I first started giving blood, I was terrified of needles and syringes and would become light-headed at the mere suggestion of them. But I had grown up in a small town where the community blood drive made the front page of the local paper, which listed every donor and paid…

Justin joined the Be the Match registry approximately 13 years ago while attending the Stanford Medicine Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Reunion. His decision to join was a simple one, as cancer has been a significant theme in his life, and his choice that day led to Justin saving a life several years later. The Other…

By Ben Ballard, donor The overwhelming feeling of gratitude hits me at times when I stop to ponder it, yet one thing remains constant: she is alive and thriving. It is almost unbelievable to me that April 2015 will mark 20 years since I nearly lost one of my older sisters in a car accident. Nearly…

Today we bring you the story of one of our donors, Aly. Her journey of love, loss and perseverance led Aly to become a donor with Stanford Blood Center (SBC). Aly donated blood for the first time when she was 17, hoping to be able to help others with the gift of this precious resource….

My donation story starts from when I was very young. My grandmother was a severe hemophiliac. I was used to seeing her in the hospital getting blood transfusions. Once I became an adult, I realized the best way I could memorialize her was to start giving back to others by donating blood. I was given…

I started donating when my cousin’s wife was diagnosed with leukemia. In the face of this tragic disease, she not only thought of herself, but of others as well. She kept family and friends informed of her progress and treatments, and never missed an opportunity to ask us to donate blood and register as organ…

Today is my 99th whole blood donation. My husband and I started donating about 19 years ago as one of our first dates. We had been dating about 3 months, and my son’s elementary school was having a blood drive (Stanford), and we decided to make our first donation together. Since that time, we have…

My first donation was in 1977 at a mobile blood drive at my company. My girlfriend encouraged me, as she was a regular donor. I, among many others at work, didn’t really see the need and was apprehensive to give blood. But after I read about the stories of people’s lives being saved, it was…

When I was 17, I was in a skiing accident that left me in a coma and requiring immediate brain surgery to remove a blood clot from my left frontal lobe. I owe my life to the paramedics and brain surgeon and hospital staff, and generous blood donors who ensured the hospital and medical staff…

I give blood because I can! My first donation was on Valentine’s Day years ago and I was anxious, scared and excited. 35 donations later, it has become a part of my normal routine. I am lucky that I am able to donate and I like knowing that I am helping someone in need. Thank…

My Mom always encouraged us to donate blood when we were old enough to do so. Blood donations saved her life at the age of 28 when she had open heart surgery after my brother was born. At the time, I was 12 and my sister was 9. We both regularly donate now and I…

We give because so many others can’t and blood can’t be manufactured. Giving blood saves lives! It’s groovy to give! Give at your earliest convenience. Linda 9-29-14

I was introduced to donating blood back in college during an on-campus blood drive. I remember feeling then, as I do now, that such a simple act could have such a meaningful impact on someone else in need, perhaps at a traumatic point in their life. What a gift that any healthy person can give…

Paulina’s life began in Stanford, Lucille Packard’s NICU. She was there until Christmas Eve and came home after 3 months. She received so many transfusions, FFP and other products, we all lost count! Now her heart needs healing and again Stanford helps us give to her and reach out. Thank you for giving her life-giving…

When I was born, I had an unusual blood component called “Little C.” The doctors were concerned and decided I needed a full blood transfusion. As a universal donor, it’s difficult to be a recipient but, fortunately, my father had the same blood type and was my donor. I think it is important to donate…

As a flight attendant with United for over 40 years — I started flying during the 70s, which was at the height of the AIDS epidemic — I lost so many friends who were flight attendants! I wished that I could do something to help the world, and I saw someone driving with a bumper…

At Daly, we all waited for the day when we got to go to the smelly, cramped wrestling gym to donate blood. It was as much a rite of passage as getting your driver’s license. From there, I progressed to staffing the blood drive my senior year, then to Welch Road to the big times…

After a courageous 8-year battle against [non-Hodgkin’s] lymphoma, my father, 65, succumbed to MDS, a blood disease for which there was no treatment in 2001. I learned about and began donating platelets when he was diagnosed, and continue to donate today to help others battle and to keep his memory alive.

I started donating blood at the Leigh High School blood drive! The nurse who helped me told me facts about how many people need blood to survive! I felt so good knowing that I was saving lives by simply donating blood!! I’ve been donating as much as possible since. If that’s not enough motive, THERE’S…

In 2013 I had hip replacement surgery and my doctor had me donate 3 units of blood for my own use during surgery. It was then that I learned about donating platelets and that my blood type and blood were perfect for platelet donation to help people with compromised immunities. I have been giving platelets…

By Jennifer Chang Have you ever seen a donor wearing a fancy Stanford Blood Center T-shirt with shiny gold or silver foil lettering? We give out lots of shirts here at SBC, but these are ordered in pretty small quantities. They are reserved for our Precious Mettle donors, a special club for those who have…

Blood drive…Saratoga High

Both my children were preemies and required blood transfusions (special preemie blood) from the Stanford Blood Bank. I think of this when I give blood. I am always grateful to those who gave and to the Stanford Blood Bank. Today, both of my children are healthy — one graduated from college, the other is on her…

It doesn’t hurt! It really helps! Donate blood!

I donate blood to make others healthy and have the blood they need so they can have a wonderful life ahead. I love the clinic at Menlo Park. It is such a nice place to donate & the staff and volunteers are all very nice. I look forward to my next appointment! Have a great…

By John Knapp When General Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier, was asked about so many people asking him to autograph copies of his autobiography, he said, “Being a military guy, I’m part of their property. They paid for my life and achievements with their taxes. You have to look at…

By Kevin O’Neill On Monday, a father and daughter teamed up to make a huge difference in people’s lives by donating platelets. What made this occasion special was that the daughter was making her very first platelet donation! Mariana Briskin, a junior at Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto, had previously donated whole blood a…

By Julie Peachey Judy Lasky recently happened upon our bloodmobile parked outside a YMCA and was thrilled to see Stanford Blood Center in her neighborhood again. She had been a committed blood donor at a community drive we held in Willow Glen a few years back. Always excited to visit the bloodmobile when it showed…

  By Jennifer Canvasser When I married my best friend, Noah, we were young, healthy, and so excited to start a family together. We expected our family building journey to be simple. But, we struggled with infertility. I was jealous of my friends who got pregnant without even trying. I desperately wanted to have my…

By Julie Peachey Several years ago we introduced the idea of Center drives for small groups of friends who donate together at our Center locations. An alternative to hosting a larger, off-site blood drive, these groups (typically 5-10 people) are a great way to support patients in need while building a sense of community with each…

By Mario Escudero There is one specific reason I give blood. Six years ago my father, Frank Escudero, was diagnosed with renal cancer. After a partial removal of his lower kidney, he continued to suffer from other symptoms of the disease. A year of biopsies proved that the cancer had spread and he was going to need…

I woke up one Tuesday and knew it was going to be a crappy day. I asked my daughter to get herself ready for school and wake me when it was time for me to drive her there. I e-mailed my personal trainer and cancelled my first appointment to launch a workout routine. Even showering felt like too much effort.

When Randy Helmonds, wife Lisa, and their two teenage boys donate blood, they take an unconventional approach. Why sit quietly in the donor chair when it can be so much more exciting? “Creating a friendly, competitive environment is a fun direction to go,” shares Randy who wants blood donation to be something his family looks forward to.

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.

I am an active 43 year old woman with a strong love for life. I am living with terminal breast cancer and acute leukemia (AML). As a result, I am transfusion dependent and now receive blood and platelets on a weekly basis.

At a blood donor recognition event last year, Janet Silberman, a 150-time donor, sat in the audience and listened to Larry Frederick, a retired police officer, thank each and every individual in the room for saving his life. Many years earlier, he experienced a life-threatening event that required immediate blood transfusions. His story could have been terribly tragic. But instead, the blood was available and it saved his life. He now rides his bicycle across the country setting up blood drives and personally thanking the donors.

By Dimone Gabler, recipient of blood products & champion of blood donors

I thought people who received blood either had surgery, a transfusion for a particular condition, or had been in a serious accident. I found out there are other reasons one might need blood. A few years ago, I thought I had a bad flu bug. After two to three days of not being able to keep anything down, my husband insisted I go to the doctor. I was so weak I was barely able to stand. After the doctor’s examination, he sent me to the emergency room at Good Samaritan Hospital.

I looked at the date of my last plasma/platelet donation: March 7, 2011. It was August now I realized and as I blinked at the date, it seemed impossible to remember what life was like just those few short months ago – there seemed to be such a gaping hole in reality and time. Within weeks of that donation in March, my Mom and I, together with the love of her life Alec, would celebrate her 60th birthday in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit waiting for her operation to repair a heart valve and to replace 2 artificial ones.

My name is Gary Davis and I would like to share my experiences donating blood with my daughter Katie.

Daniel Paepcke first started giving blood in January, 2003. Eight and a half years and 199 donations later, Daniel paid his regular visit to the Campus Center and made his 200th donation. Quite an accomplishment for the young man who at age 27, is one of our youngest donors to reach this milestone.

Hello Stanford Blood Center donors and friends! My name is Isabel Stenzel Byrnes and I’m a social worker and health educator, currently working for the Lucile Packard Pediatric Weight Control Program. I have a twin sister named Anabel, who is a genetic counselor at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. We’d like to share our personal story with you in this blog.

On Dec. 29, 2010, Linda Johnson became the first woman to make 500 donations at Stanford Blood Center. It was more than 20 years ago when Linda’s friend and Stanford Blood Center platelet donor, Stan Jensen, urged her to check if she would make a good platelet donor. Linda was a perfect candidate with good veins and a high platelet count.

  By Phillip King, long-time Stanford Blood Center platelet donor Above, Phillip is donating platelets after being the very first donor to try out our new software system for the registration process. Today’s entry is one of those gimmicky pieces where the writing of the entry is intimately connected with the topic being written about….

By Dr. Duff Howell, 277-time blood donor and counting One of my finer enduring gifts was a conversation about donating blood that I had 15 or 20 years ago. I’d said, “I never look when they put the needle in. I’ve always hated needles, freaks me out, can’t watch, better to look away.” My buddy…

  Guest post by Susan Ipaktchian, originally published on Scope, Stanford University School of Medicine’s blog. Do you know your blood type? I was surprised when many of my friends and family members said they didn’t know theirs. But here’s an easy way to find out and also do a little good work at the…

Below, blood donor Amy Zucker Morgenstern writes about why she began giving blood, some struggles she’s experienced along the way, and how she’ll insist on continuing despite these obstacles. According to the Stanford Blood Center, I’m a gallon donor. But they’re just being nice. They mean I’ve had over eight appointments. I think only about…

The following piece by blood donor Kathy Harris is something she voluntarily wrote following her very first blood donation. Please be sure to share it with your friends who are not yet blood donors as a bit of encouragement to give it a try. Can you believe it’s already been (more than) 56 days since…

By Julie Ruel, Social Media Manager, Stanford Blood Center Each morning, David Polnaszek gets up, changes into his Stanford Blood Center (SBC) hoodie, something he earned upon his tenth donation last year, and takes an hour-long walk around his neighborhood. Now that he’s retired from Microsoft, he has more time to devote to his passions…

  We had the pleasure of working with the friendly folks at Micro-Documentaries on some short videos featuring a few very special blood recipients. Below is a piece written by Noah Stout from Micro-Docs about his experiences in filming the Stanford Blood Center Series. One function of Micro-Documentaries is to depict stories that will move…

When long-time apheresis donor Dawn Chuck was unable to continue giving platelets, she made it a personal goal to recruit as many platelet donors as it would take to make up for losing her… and then some! Dawn (above, second from left) also belongs to family of three generations of blood donors, featured in this…

Below are some reflections by Larry Frederick, a retired Oakland Police officer, who was in a near-fatal accident in 1982. Since his recovery, he has done four cross country tours on his bicycle to raise awareness of the need for blood donations.  It’s already a new year. What a great time for me, a blood…