Amazing Story

Katherine is giving back

NZ Blood WBD 2011 330
I have been a whole blood donor only since 2012. Previous to this because of being pregnant/ breast feeding I was unable to donate & then a life with children, it was put in the basket of "I'll do that later". Four years ago my sister haemorrhaged while having her baby and needed a life saving blood transfusion - this was my motivation to start donating.

Since then I've watched a neighbour's son deteriorate with Kidney failure and the need for blood products just reinforced my resolve. Thankfully, his Aunty donated a kidney and he is doing fantastically well - what a gift!

This xmas just passed we unfortunately lost a cousin to a brain haemorrhage and her organs were donated in a true selfless act by her family, to 5 different people.

I'm not brave enough to become a "Live Donor" but hope that by making regular blood donations then it is a small way of giving something back.

Submitted: 2018-06-13

Donor

Otago

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