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Dr. Charles Drew  It’s impossible to say how many millions of
people would have lost their lives if it weren’t for Dr. Charles
Drew. He revolutionized the blood banking industry and is
responsible for discovering and developing many blood banking
techniques that are still used today.He was one of the pioneers that basically discovered that you could remove the plasma, the liquid portion of the blood and actually freeze dry plasma and store those proteins for prolonged periods of time and really it was a breakthrough technology in being able to provide some type of a transfusion support team during war efforts. Before this discovery, red blood cells could not be stored for more than a couple of days because of the rapid break down of red blood cells. Dr. Drew established the first blood bank in England as well as a blood bank at Columbia University in New York. He also organized a system of volunteer blood donors and centralized the collection of donated blood where he processed the blood and separated out the plasma. Dr. Drew’s life was cut short on April 1, 1950 when he was involved in a car accident that left him in need of blood. Dr. Drew passed away while working to save lives. Watch Video 100 Gallon Donor  Sisters Sandy Belflower and Karen
Lanier share a passion for blood donation. Karen was the first
sister to begin donating blood and she inspired Sandy to do the
same. The sister often joke about how this is the one thing Sandy
can do better than Karen. Karen’s given more than 55 gallons over
the years, but Sandy just donated her 100th gallon.Sandy began donating blood back in 1979 because her friend’s mother was in a car accident and needed a transfusion. Sandy realized the need for blood and continued donating for other patients in the hospital. She gave nine gallons before becoming a platelet donor. Once she learned that platelets only have a shelf life of five days and that they are needed by cancer patients she not only became a platelet donor, but a triple platelet donor. Sandy says she feels good when she’s donating platelets. She knows she’s helping patients in need and she says she feels energized after the donation. Sandy is only the second woman on record at Florida’s Blood Centers to give 100 gallons. So far, she’s helped approximately 2,400 patients and she has no intention of slowing down any time soon. Watch Video Blake's Story  With his bright blonde hair and piercing
blue eyes, little Blake Brandt holds the key to his parents hearts.
That’s why they were devastated when doctors diagnosed their
precious little boy with leukemia just days after his first
birthday.Blake’s father Daniel said, “It was pretty surreal…how could this happen? What did we do wrong? You know…what could we do? Pretty much why did this happen? Then we found out that there’s nothing we could have done.” Blake’s parents thought he may have had a rash because they noticed red dots on the back of Blake’s legs and mentioned it at his one-year check up. It turns out those red dots were pitikia and Blake needed an immediate blood transfusion. Blake began intensive chemotherapy and received multiple blood and platelet transfusions since he started treatment. Now, his parents are advocates for blood donation and they are hosting a blood drive in Blake’s honor at the Beef O’Brady’s in Deltona on February 4 from noon to 6pm. Book an appointment. Blake is technically in remission now, but he has a long road ahead of him. Thanks to blood donors Blake has the best shot possible at beating this disease. Watch Video NASCAR Fans Save Lives  Ladies and gentlemen….start your engines!
With those famous words the Daytona International Speedway roars to
life as Preseason Thunder Fan Fest gets under way.Preseason Thunder Fan Fest is a chance for NASCAR fans to watch their favorite drivers practice for the 2012 Daytona 500. It also gives NASCAR fans a chance to save lives through blood donation. Big Red Buses are the vehicle of choice outside turn tunnel four and blood donors are the ones in the driver’s seat on the road to saving lives. For the ninth year in a row, Florida’s Blood Centers teamed up with the Daytona International Speedway for the annual Preseason Thunder Fan Fest Blood Drive. Donor Carol Pagano says, “It’s very exciting to see all the people out here and hear the race cars. It’s exciting. Very enjoyable.” Those donating on the Big Red Bus agreed with Pagano. They all said it was pretty unique to be giving the gift of life while hearing their favorite drivers race around the track just a few feet away. Together Florida’s Blood Centers and the Daytona International Speedway helped save hundreds of lives during the 2012 Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest. Watch Video Mike's Story  Mike Myers loves taking care of his
granddaughters and watching them grow up. This retiree spent years
working for an airline before joining Florida’s Blood Centers as a
recruiter. As a recruiter Mike practiced what he preached. He
wanted to give at least 30 gallons of blood, but when he was just a
gallon shy of that goal he got sick during a company awards
ceremony. He looked pale and began sweating profusely, so his
co-workers insisted he go to the hospital.After undergoing a battery of tests Myers learned that he had two blocked arteries and needed triple bypass surgery. Shortly after that operation Myers went from being a blood donor to a blood recipient. Myers was on the road to recovery and was starting to get back into the swing of things when illness struck again. He said, “I woke up in the middle of the night about 2:30 in the morning…heart pounding out of my chest, difficulty breathing, so I went to the hospital because we thought it was my heart again and it wasn’t…I was in the hospital for 11 days and they did a bunch of tests and that’s when we found out that I had pulmonary fibrosis.” Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring or thickening of the lungs and most patients are only given about two to five years to live. Myers says he takes it day by day relying on his faith to get him through. Myers received blood for a second time in the Fall of 2011 after learning he had lost 30% of the blood in his body. He says, “I felt like I was 20 years old again, so I got a total of four units and thank God, if I hadn’t had those units of blood I don’t think I’d be here today.” That’s why Myers encourages everyone to get out and donate blood. A blood drive will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at Center Point Church in Palm Bay from 8am-1pm in honor of Myers. Book an appointment Watch video 86-Year-Old Doctor Celebrates Birthday By Giving Gift of Life  For the seventh year in a row Dr.
Charles Gard of Palm Beach, Fl celebrated his birthday by giving
the gift of life. The 86-year-old even brought about 40 of his
closest friends to Florida’s Blood Centers Lake Park Branch to take
part in the festivities while giving back to the community.
Donating blood in honor of Dr. Gard’s birthday does have its perks.
Though it’s his birthday, Dr. Gard is the one handing out the
presents. In addition to giving the gift of life, he gives each
person who donates blood at his “birthday party” a free office
visit.Dr. Gard says he donates blood because he knows he is saving lives and this is his way of giving back. Dr. Gard also enjoys the free mini-physical that comes along with giving blood. Dr. Gard has given more than 50 gallons of blood and has no intention of slowing down any time soon. Blood Donation Tips  Donating blood can be an exciting thing
because you are helping to save three lives, but we understand if
you may be a little anxious about the procedure, especially if you
are a first time donor. Regardless of whether you’re donating your
first pint or you 100th gallon we want to make sure you
have the most pleasant experience possible.It’s important for anyone who’s considering giving blood to keep their iron level up by eating iron-rich foods such as spinach, red meat, beans, poultry, iron-fortified cereals and raisins. It’s also important to stay well-hydrated, get plenty of sleep and to avoid fatty foods such as hamburgers, French fries and ice-cream in the hours leading up to blood donation. On the day of the donation it’s important to wear clothing that can be raised above the elbow and show the phlebotomist any veins that have been used successfully to draw blood in the past. You may want to bring a book, videogame or ipod to distract yourself while giving blood. During the donation you can tense your leg muscles for five seconds and release for five seconds. This will move blood from the legs into the central body region which helps maintain blood pressure. If you use this technique be sure to keep breathing normally while tensing and relaxing your legs. When you are finished giving blood it’s important to drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours and avoid strenuous activity for the next five hours. If you feel lightheaded be sure to lie down immediately, preferably with your feet elevated until the feeling passes. If anything doesn’t feel right be sure to contact your blood center immediately. Remember to bring a valid form of photo identification and your signed parental permission slip if you are 16 years old. WATCH VIDEO Santa Saves Lives  ‘Twas the week before Christmas and many
of our branchesGot a visit from Santa What are the chances? In Florida, we won’t have any snow Our Santa’s wear shades And give gifts that come in A, B, AB and O This is the gift that never fades Giving life to patients right here in the Florida glades As Santa fills the bag made of plastic He thinks wow, this is fantastic He thinks of the lives that he saves Keeping in mind platelets only last for a max of five days The holidays are a time of great need Donations tend to dwindle at a frightening speed Look at Santa He’s taking the lead Giving life to others in the short time it takes to bleed For those waiting on a transfusion We want to eliminate any confusion When it comes to blood there is no substitution It has to come from me and you From people willing to make this precious contribution As Santa sits in our branch in Winter Springs He thinks of the joy that his present will bring Then with a tear He remembers a girl whom he’d met last year She only had one request in her Santa’s letter That her ill brother soon would be better Ah, the great gift that is life A present that can be given without any strife How do you give this gift that is great? What can you do? How can you donate? Come into a branch or get on a bus Make an appointment-avoid all the fuss Give whole blood, platelets and plasma, it’s really no trouble And when you give Alyx, you give red blood cells that are double You’re helping patients put up a good fight And that is why Santa sits down and shouts with delight “Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!” Watch Video Bone Marrow Recipient Meets Donor  Jackie Gorr and David Phillips are bound
together for life though they are not related. They don’t even live
in the same state, but a fateful trip to the doctor about eight
years ago set the wheels of fate in motion that would join this
pair forever.Jackie is a two time cancer-survivor whose battle began at the age of fifteen when she noticed a lump on her neck. Her mother, Karen Espinoza says, “When we were first told that Jackie had cancer at the age of 15 the first thing I thought of was-what did I do wrong? Did I eat something? Did I not take care of myself when I carried her? So that was my first reaction to it, because how does somebody at 15 get cancer? I t just blew my mind. I couldn’t understand why.” Jackie underwent chemotherapy and radiation and relied on blood and platelets from donors to sustain life. Eventually she entered remission. She went on to graduate high-school, get a job and even get engaged. By the time her 21st birthday rolled around, Jackie was on top of the world. She was especially looking forward to celebrating her five-year remission mark, which would make her technically cancer-free, but one week before reaching that incredible milestone everything fell apart. Jackie says she started feeling pain in her chest and noticed her heart would race even if she was sitting still. She instinctively knew something was wrong and doctors confirmed her fears one week before hitting that five-year remission milestone. This time doctors diagnosed Jackie with leukemia, not Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. They told her it was a secondary cancer that was brought on by the chemotherapy she used to fight the disease as a teenager. Since, it was a secondary cancer, doctors told her that her best shot at survival was to have a bone marrow transplant. No one in Jackie’s family was a bone marrow match, so they turned to the National Bone Marrow Registry to find a matching donor. This is where David Phillips steps into the picture. He is a multi-gallon blood donor who decided to join the Registry several years ago. He just happened to be a 9 out of 10 match for Jackie. He says, “I think everybody has gifts to give and one of my gifts has been that I’ve been really in good health all my life and I felt it’s a way to give back to someone.” Jackie and David began communicating with each other about a year after the transplant, but they had never met in person until a few days before Thanksgiving 2011. The two shared an emotional embrace when they finally met face to face. Phillips said, “It was amazing I think to finally meet her and see firsthand the impact that I had on someone else’s life and what it’s meant to her and it just made the connection full.” As they get to know one another they discover they have a lot in common such as a love for horses, but they also discover they both share freckles, something Jackie did not have until after the transplant. Jackie says a few freckles is a small price to pay for the gift of life. She says, “The greatest thing about having a bone marrow transplant is that you can actually meet the person that has given you life. You know, you hear all about these people having heart transplants and lung transplants and everything, but they’re losing and family members are losing, but this, this is something big- you can actually meet that other person that gave you life.” They started out as strangers- National Bone Marrow Registrant and hospital patient living hundreds of miles away. Today they walk together as donor and recipient, giving and receiving the gift of life. Watch Video Santa Gives the Gift of Life 
Twas the day before Christmas and all through the branches,
donation chairs lie empty
What are the chances?
No phlebotomists debating over which arm the should
stick
Apheresis machines lie silent
No buttons that go click
Everyone is wondering-who will help those who are sick?
When in through the doors walked a man named St. Nick
He had a beard as white as snow
And a voice that said ho, ho, ho
He arrived with a spirit no one could shake
Coming to save lives in a county we call Lake
Every year he rolls up his sleeve
Making sure this is his first stop as he kicks off Christmas
Eve
As he fills his bag made of plastic
He thinks wow, this is fantastic
He thinks of the lives that he saves
Keeping in mind platelets only last for a max of five
days
The holidays are a time of great need
Donations tend to dwindle at a frightening speed
Look at Santa
He’s taking the lead
Giving life to others in the short time it takes to
bleed
For those waiting on a transfusion
We want to eliminate any confusion
When it comes to blood there is no substitution
It has to come from me and you
From people willing to make this precious contribution
How do you give this gift that is great?
What can you do?
How can you donate?
Come into a branch or get on a bus
Make an appointment-avoid all the fuss
Give whole blood, platelets and plasma, it’s really no
trouble
And when you give Alyx, you give red blood cells that are
double
Just like an elf
You’re giving a present that can’t be bought on a shelf
You’ll be helping patients who are ill
Patients who can’t be made better by taking a pill
Santa’s beaming with pride
As he hurries to deliver packages with bows that are
tied
He’s done his good deed for the day
He grabs a few cookies to eat on the way
As he leaves he shouts with delight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Book an appointment HERE
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