Mark your calendars! The Luminis Health Center mobile blood drive will accept donations on Sunday, September 15 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Annapolis Town Center parking lot across the street from CAVA. Our community goal is to donate 30 units of life-saving material on this day, so check the link for a convenient time slot.
Donating blood to patients who need it is a low-commitment way to give back to your community. Often, we don’t think about the critical need for blood donors until we know someone who is a recipient.
In December 2020, Jessica Farrar’s mom, Kathi Schulman, was diagnosed with leukemia, an illness that requires regular blood transfusions or the patient will pass away within days.
“I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet,” recalled Jessica. “I still needed my mom.”
For two and a half months, Jessica’s mom received blood transfusions at Luminis. Luminis Health Center is blood-independent, meaning that local donors are the only source of life-saving products for patients in our community.
“I was so grateful when I realized everyone who donated their blood was keeping her alive,” she said. “It was such an incredible gift to spend that extra time with her.”
After her mom passed away, Jessica began donating “religiously.”
“It’s such a no-brainer to do it,” she said, “It takes less than one hour, and I don’t even get light-headed afterward anymore [like when I was in my 20s].”
Jessica notes that prepping for the blood donation gives you a guilt-free excuse to eat high-iron foods. Her favorite go-to is a burger.
She adds, “I donate because what if someone just needs their mom?”
Did you know?
- Unlike medicines or insulin, doctors cannot create a substitute for blood. Healthy donors are the only supply for this life-saving product.
- All blood donations collected at the mobile drive directly support the needs of patients in our community.
- 3,000 people annually benefit from the Luminis Health blood supply to heal and recover.
- Blood in liquid form has a lifespan of only 42 days, so the blood bank needs donations regularly.
- Your donation of whole blood or platelets can save up to three lives.
- You can donate blood every 56 days and platelets every 42 days.
Sign up for the blood drive here.
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