News and Events

Without Blood Bank membership, she needed to replace or pay for 49 pints of blood

Continue reading "A Sudden Emergency Puts a New Mother's Life in Jeopardy" »

Fran K. of Elkton, Maryland has been a Blood Bank member for about 4 years. He joined to protect his wife and three young children for the cost of replacing the blood they used - if it was ever needed. And then the unthinkable happened.

PICTURED: Fran with his wife, Linda, and 3 children

Continue reading "Blood Bank Membership Protects Family in Elkton" »

"Why do I donate blood so often? Because I have miraculous living proof of how much it's needed," said Eunice P. of Wilmington, Delaware.

Eunice's grandson, Hunter, was born three months early on May 10, 2008. He weighed just 2 pounds, 5 ounces.

Continue reading "Premature Newborn Needs Blood To Survive" »

What do you do for your community? Do you coach the local kids in sports? Or does the thought of being surrounded by dozens of kids (and their victory hungry parents) scare you? Are you a member of your local volunteer fire department? Not into Bingo Night?

Well, I have an easy job for you. All you have to do is sit there and let some one else fuss over you. You get to watch TV and there are cookies when you are done. No, there's no catch. Well, maybe a little one; I'd like you to give blood.

Continue reading "A message from David Schucker, a blood donor in Dover, DE" »

Renee E. of Milford, DE first started donating blood about a decade ago, when she was 19-years-old.

"I moved away from home when I was 17. A good friend, who I looked up to as a mentor, donated blood and that inspired me to give it a try," Renee said.

While Renee was always proud to be a blood donor, she admitted that she felt a little disconnected from her "faceless" good deed because she never saw where the blood was going. That is... until 2 years ago.

Continue reading "Putting a Face to the Need" »

When asked why Robert G. of Dover, Delaware has been a loyal LifeSaver donor over the years, the answer was simple. "Because I can," he said.

Robert has grown up with living proof of the importance of blood donations. His identical twin brother was a "blue baby" at birth, meaning he was born with a congenital heart defect that caused an inadequate oxygenation of his blood.

PICTURED: Robert (on right) with his twin brother, Bill

Continue reading ""I'm Not a Hero... I Donate Blood Because I Can"" »

At just two-months-old, Ke'Asia M. of Wilmington, Delaware was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. This disease is an inherited blood disorder that disfigures red blood cells, making it difficult for them to pass through small blood vessels. In order to avoid life-threatening complications, Ke'Asia, now 5-years-old, needs blood transfusions every 3 weeks - for the rest of her life.

Continue reading "Little Girl With Sickle Cell Disease Needs Blood Transfusions Every 3 Weeks" »

PICTURED: Tom and Joanne in Disney World 2006.

"Since the year 2000, I have given blood as a LifeSaver donor. That was the year my husband, Tom, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He has undergone radiation, chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants. During those treatments, he received many whole blood transfusions, as well as platelets. I wanted to give something back, especially to the cause that saved Tom's life. Tom is doing well these days. We are both grateful for all the donors who made his recovery possible."

- Joanne R. of Middletown, DE - LifeSaver donor since 2000

To make an appointment to donate blood, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE.

John S. of Newark, DE is a happy 2-year-old boy. Most would never guess he has Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), a rare disease that prevents red blood cells from being produced in his bone marrow. John relies on blood transfusions to survive. He has had more than 40 to date.

Continue reading "2-Year-Old Boy Needs Regular Blood Transfusions to Survive" »

It's a parent's worst nightmare. Bruce and Barbara M. of Dover, DE lived it.

Their 2-year-old daughter, Brianna, was diagnosed with JMML, a rare juvenile leukemia. Brianna suddenly faced many serious treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. For about a year and a half, Brianna needed red cell and platelet transfusions every week.

PICTURED: Brianna in 2004.

Continue reading "Girl Needed Transfusions in Fight with Leukemia" »

PICTURED: Judy G. (on right) with family

38-year-old Judy G. has been a Blood Bank LifeSaver donor since high school. For two decades, her blood donations have saved countless lives. But during her visit to give blood in May of 2007, Judy got news that ultimately saved her own life.

It all started when she had her iron levels checked before donating.

Continue reading "BLOOD DONOR TRIED TO SAVE LIVES - BUT GOT NEWS THAT SAVED HER OWN" »

Because it was baby number six for Rhonda M. of Clayton, DE, she expected her pregnancy and delivery to go just as smoothly as for her other children. But at 5 months, Rhonda suddenly went into labor and delivered her son Jonathan. He weighed just one pound, six ounces.

Continue reading "WOMAN GIVES BACK AFTER BLOOD DONORS HELP SAVE HER PREMATURE SON" »

"When I was in college, I studied abroad and lived with a Spanish family in Salamanca, Spain. I formed an instant bond with them, especially my "Spanish sister" - Yolanda Esteban Lopez - who was three years younger than I. We became as close as if we were related by blood.

PICTURED: Irene and her "Spanish sister," Yolanda, in the Plaza Mayor of Salamanca, Spain, in 1995.

Continue reading "Wilmington Woman Donates Blood in Honor of her "Spanish Sister"" »

PICTURED: Chanelle with her husband, Ty

Just three weeks after minor surgery, 35-year-old Chanelle J. of Wilmington, Delaware learned that she had contracted MRSA and had developed a potentially fatal colon infection. Fluid was quickly building and, without an emergency operation, her colon would burst.

Continue reading "Wilmington Woman Needs Blood in Surgery to Survive Potentially Fatal Colon Infection" »

PICTURED: Mary C. with her family

Mary C. of Newark, DE is no stranger to Blood Bank of Delmarva. Her mom Helene has worked as a phlebotomist there for more than 20 years. Mary's husband Ed is a longtime "LifeSaver" donor. But even though she understood the Blood Bank's role in the community, Mary never thought she'd one day owe her life to local blood donors.

A few days after being released from the hospital with her newborn son Brian in 1993, Mary experienced several sudden life-threatening complications and she began bleeding - ultimately losing a considerable amount of blood. At the time, Mary was home alone with 3-day-old Brian.

PICTURED: Mary's newborn son Brian in 1993

Continue reading "New Mom Needs Blood Transfusions To Survive" »

Donor began giving platelets twice a month after wife was diagnosed with leukemia

Continue reading "Wilmington Man Joins Elite Group of Blood Donors with 200th Platelet Donation" »

Michelle G. of Camden, DE spent many years of her life terrified of needles. But after a family tragedy, she overcame her fear and gave back to the very cause that helped prolong her sister's life- by becoming a regular blood donor. It was a cause that also helped her husband survive a serious accident nearly 25 years later.

PICTURED: Michelle with her husband Joe

Continue reading "A FAMILY TRAGEDY ENCOURAGES CAMDEN WOMAN TO BECOME "LIFESAVER" DONOR" »

Deanna B. of Laurel, Delaware says she will always be grateful for the selfless acts of blood donors at Blood Bank of Delmarva.

"I can not even begin to tell you how many blood products my husband has received through the years," Deanna said.

PICTURED: Deanna with her husband Gerry and son Dale on Christmas Day 2006 at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Continue reading "Laurel Woman Gives Back to Blood Bank After Husband's Battle with Leukemia" »

Whitney W. was 18 when she lost her mother to cancer. Since then, she has become a 'blood donor advocate'- giving blood and encouraging others to do the same.

"My mom was sick for 10 years. Every time I walked into the hospital to visit her, I could see reasons to give blood. There were patients everywhere I looked who needed transfusions."

PICTURED: Whitney, left, with her sister in front of the Blood Bank "Bloodmobile."

Continue reading "Whitney's Story: Donating Blood in Honor of her Mother" »

"Ever since I was little girl, I hated needles. I used to dread doctor visits and shots and I would have done anything to avoid them. When the opportunity to give blood was presented to me, I would turn it down. I just couldn't make myself go to the blood drive, even though I knew my blood donation could help save someone's life.

That was before the accident- the day my life changed forever," said Meghan M., Blood Bank of Delmarva member.

PICTURED: Meghan with her boyfriend, David, who needed 124 units of blood to survive a motorcycle accident.

Continue reading "Young Woman Encourages Blood Donation After Serious Motorcycle Crash" »

PICTURED: Robert Bruner, left, poses with his family in front of the Blood Bank's Christiana Center.

Continue reading "NEWARK MAN MAKES 200TH PLATELET DONATION- INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL BLOOD DONATION HALL OF FAME" »

Continue reading "Why Give Blood? - Here is just one story from a local hero." »

Andrew, age 14, was proud to be a 'straight-A' student at Salesianum School. Andrew had charisma, a fun-loving personality, and an affectionate nature. He excelled at all sports, particularly soccer and baseball.

But on January 27, 2007, everything changed.

Continue reading ""B+": An Inspirational Story about 14-Year-Old Andrew McDonough" »

At 2 months old, Gabrielle A. of Wilmington was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal liver disease. Each day, Gabrielle's skin and the whites of her eyes became more yellow. She was constantly scratching her skin because of the disease. She desperately needed a new liver.

PICTURED: Gabrielle, 18, with her parents Gabe and Eve at their Wilmington home.

Continue reading "Blood Transfusions Help Infant Battle Potentially Fatal Liver Disease" »

Matthew G. is your typical 18-year-old. The Pocomoke High School senior plays tennis, runs track and works as a lifeguard at the YMCA. Looking up at the 6-foot, 6-inch slender teen, one might never guess how a holiday gift in 1994 changed his life forever.

Continue reading "A 5-Year-Old's Sudden Accident Inspires "Award-Winning" Blood Drives at Pocomoke High School" »

Kim W., 33, had the 'perfect pregnancy.'

"My water broke early in the morning," she said. "The baby was out in three pushes- it was easy labor."

But then something went wrong. She couldn't stop bleeding. Kim was rushed back to the emergency room for immediate surgery. She needed a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding.

Continue reading "New Mom Needed 87 Pints of Blood to Survive Birth of Daughter" »

Corrine B. of Northeast, MD was only two years old when she contracted mononucleosis. The illness quickly turned into a rare blood disorder called HLH (Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), which often affects infants and young children.

Corrine needed about 140 units of red cells, platelets and plasma throughout her chemotherapy treatment to survive.

Continue reading "Hundreds of Blood Donors Save the Life of Local 3-Year-Old Girl" »

Suzy Y., 35, was getting ready to deliver her second child by cesarean section- but she wasn't worried. She had delivered her first child by C-section and everything went smoothly.

But this time, things were different.

Continue reading "Wilmington Woman Needs Emergency Blood Transfusion After Giving Birth" »

Three years ago, triplets- Hailey, Hunter and Kaitlyn C. of Northeast, MD- were born prematurely at just 27 weeks. Each baby needed blood transfusions to survive.

Continue reading "Triplets From Northeast, MD Need Blood Transfusions to Survive" »

Newborn Christopher P. was diagnosed with Rh disease, a rare and potentially fatal blood disorder that destroys red blood cells. From birth, every inch of Christopher's skin was bathed in light in an effort to combat the jaundicing effects of his life-threatening illness. After weeks of hospitalization and constant care, Christopher required an emergency blood transfusion.

Continue reading "Rare Blood Disorder Attacks Newborn" »

When Alex K. and his twin brother William of Middletown were born 3 months early, they each weighed less than 3 pounds. Alex suffered an abruption, which means the placenta began to separate from the wall of his mother's uterus before he was born. After birth, Alex was rushed to intensive care at Christiana Hospital and needed blood transfusions to survive.

Continue reading "Twin Boys Home By Christmas Because of Local Blood Donors" »

Ryan S. of Newark was born nearly three months early, weighing just 2 pounds. Because his digestive system was so immature, Ryan developed a severe infection in his intestines. Doctors were forced to take his blood for testing around the clock, but his body was unable to make new blood. The infection became more severe and Ryan had only a 35% chance of survival.

Continue reading "Blood Donors Save Life of Premature Baby" »