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| Emily Abrahamsen, of Des Moines, thanks Doug House, of Lone Rock, for being one of 40 people who helped save her life through a blood donation. (News-Tribune photo by Mary Loden) |
Blood donors, recipient share special bond
By MARY LODEN, Of the News-Tribune
Medical crisis becomes miracle
January is National Blood Donor Month. A person never knows when they may require the life-saving gift of blood or whose life they may save by donating. It is often taken for granted that a supply would be readily on hand if the above situation were to occur. However, in order for that to happen the Blood Center of Iowa must hold a blood drive six days a week, 52 weeks a year to collect the 100,000 units of blood necessary to maintain 49 hospitals across Iowa.
Aug. 8, 2007 started out just like any other work day for Emily Abrahamsen, 25, of Des Moines, but in a moment of time her life changed forever.
Abrahamsen was run over by a city bus as she was walking to work. When the traffic light flashed the “Walk” sign Abrahamsen stepped into the crosswalk where she was immediately hit by a bus, whose driver was making a left hand turn and didn't see her.
After being knocked down the bus's wheel rolled over her midsection shattering her pelvis and rupturing her bladder. She also sustained skull fractures and sustained numerous cuts and bruises.
Before her ordeal was over Abrahamsen required almost 40 units of blood during her three-month hospital stay.
Paramedics arriving at the scene of the bus accident in downtown Des Moines had no idea how serious the situation was, Abrahamsen said, because, except for her head wound, there were no visible signs of trauma. That all changed within a moment.
“Then they took off my belt, which they say must have acted like a tourniquet, and they started panicking,” the young woman said as she relayed her story. “They had to cut my clothes off me. I didn't want to watch but they kept telling me to wake up and stay with them. I could tell by their voices that it was really bad. Sometimes I wish I was unconscious so I don't remember all that.”
“I was lucky doctors and everyone in the ER got me blood right away,” she said.
Every day in the United States more than 38,000 Americans will require the use of donated blood but less than 4 percent of the population actually donates this valuable resource.
Growth in blood demand continues to outpace the growth in blood supply. In fact, “Blood shortages have become more frequent across the United States,” said Christine Hayes, Director of Public Relations for The Blood Center of Iowa.
“Although we have with very committed and supportive blood donors in Iowa, we still need to recruit more people to donate blood and understand what an important role their gift of blood can play in the healthcare of patients right here in our community.”
Abrahamsen spent one week at Iowa Mercy Hospital in Des Moines before being transferred to the burn unit in Iowa City because they were the best equipped to handle the degree of care she needed.
“I was constantly bleeding. They had to keep resuscitating me (with blood transfusions),” Abrahamsen recalled. “I was in hypovolemic shock (the point where the body has lost so much blood the organs begin to die). My blood pressure dropped very low and I required multiple surgeries.”
Abrahamsen said that despite her shattered body the biggest concern was the internal bleeding. “Doctors told my parents, 'she's not going to make it if we can't get the bleeding to stop,'” she said.
After months of surgeries, healing and rehab Abrahamsen was finally able to walk on her own again in February 2008 and was able to return to work part time.
“At first I didn't want to know anything. Then I started to get interested and requested my medical records,” she said. “I realized how lucky I was. I would have died without that blood.”
After all she had been through Abrahamsen decided she wanted to do something special to help the Blood Center of Iowa. So she teamed up with KCCI TV in Des Moines, a blood drive sponsor, and made a promotional commercial, which aired in June.
She said she felt good sharing her story if it meant more people would be encouraged to donate blood. Then she was contacted by The Blood Center's PR director and received a happy surprise.
“Christine Hayes called and asked, ‘how would you like to meet your blood donors,'” Abrahamsen said.
“Giving blood is a selfless and generous endeavor, but also it's often thought of as a faceless, anonymous act,” Hayes said. “This meeting, only the second one of its kind for The Blood Center of Iowa, will occur at the center's annual recognition event for gallon blood donors and the sponsor groups who organize and plan blood drive.”
The recognition event took place in several Iowa cities, including Clear Lake, during the month of November.
“The purpose of the meeting is to personalize the act of giving blood and to challenge and inspire more people to donate,” Hayes said. “The donors we will celebrate at this event exemplify the true spirit of volunteerism and unselfish generosity. They did not know they would ever be in a position to personally meet the person who benefited from their donation.”
Blood donor information is extremely confidential and the blood is only identified by unit number.
Excited about the chance to personally meet the people who saved her life Abrahamsen worked with her doctor to get the unit numbers on all the blood she received and Hayes matched up the numbers to the donors and asked if they would like to meet Abrahamsen.
“I waited all year to meet my donors,” Abrahamsen said with emotion catching her voice.
She met six of them at the first donor banquet held in Des Moines. Looking over a sea of 1,000 faces Abhramsen said she had no idea who her special donors were until after she shared her story with the audience.
“It was awesome. So many came up and thanked me for sharing. They said it re-emphasized why they give blood.
“It was pretty emotional. I got teary eyed. I said, ‘without you I wouldn't be here today,'” she said.
Doug House, 55, pastor of the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church in Lone Rock, Iowa, estimates he has donated over 30 gallons of blood in his lifetime. He is one of the 40 whose gift saved a young woman's life.
“I was 18 and wanted to do something, I wanted to help. I had no money to give,” said House, who is originally from Omaha, Neb. “Blood ended up being the best thing for me to give. Money can't buy it and there is always a need.”
During the blood donor banquet in Clear Lake House heard Abrahamsen's story and was later introduced.
“I didn't understand what was happening. I was the only one (at Clear Lake) to meet someone like this,” he said. “I felt amazement. You do it for all these years but there is no face or story attached. When I met Emily it makes me wonder what about all those other times.”
“She was a very attractive young lady. It appears she is okay and lives happily ever after but she will always have health issues,” said House, who is still awed by the experience.
For people who are nervous or scared of giving blood, House says, “Just try it, it could be the gift of life, something money can't buy.”
Abrahamsen said she has met eight of her blood donors so far and Hayes is getting her the addresses and phone numbers of the other 32. She said, “I plan to meet them all eventually.”
For more than 45 years, The Blood Center of Iowa has been committed to serving the needs of Iowans by saving lives through volunteer blood donation. To learn more about The Blood Center of Iowa or to schedule an appointment to donate, call (800) 287-4903 or visit www.bloodcenterofiowa.org.
Story created Dec 30, 2008 - 10:23:53 CST.
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