May 16, 2012

A Campaign Raising Sleeves and Eyebrows

Stripping down to the facts as this London blood center’s donation campaign took awareness to a whole new level.

This striking campaign was rolled out on the streets of London in order to raise awareness in a very unique way. The mobile pieces of art were covered with blood vessel body art to not only turn heads, but to get people asking questions.

The idea behind the memorable movement was to raise awareness of blood donation shortages during the summer months.

The participants walked through busy streets and airports to let their message be seen.

As people break free from their regular routines, jobs and schoolwork aren’t the only things that get left behind. Blood donations see an unusual decrease in these high activity months. This is just one blood center’s take on tackling the issue of low blood supply throughout summer months.

The group behind these eye-catching pieces of art is the National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in England and North Wales. Their goal is to boost their blood supply 30 percent by the start of the 2012 Olympic Games in July. With the increase of momentous events in the upcoming summer months, the supply will need to be stocked and ready to go.  

Blood shortages throughout the summer months are not limited to London. In fact, shortages are a regular occurance right here in the Hoosier state. Indiana Blood Center must see at least 550 donors each and every day to meet patient needs at more than 60 local hospitals that Indiana Blood Center supplies. Approximately 30 percent of our yearly donations come from education accounts like high schools and colleges. During the summer months, when school is not in session, we miss out on a large pool of donors, which can leave our shelves bare.

Even rain couldn’t stop this team from their movement to change.

This striking and maybe even racy campaign is just one way to peak interest and raise awareness of the looming issue of blood shortages.

 

 

What can you do in your local community?  

Don’t wait until a walking blood vessel comes to your door. Recognize the need and do something about it.

Become a walking blood donor instead. It’s easy.

To schedule your appointment to donate and help against the summer shortages go to www.donorpoint.org

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April 30, 2012

Donor of the Month

We are happy to announce Indiana Blood Center’s donor of the month…

Gayle Ennis of Lafayette, Indiana

Since 1991, Gayle has donated platelets with Indiana Blood Center 183 times and is still going strong. Lafayette blood collections staff has given Gayle the nickname, “the platelet machine.”

Believe it or not, Gayle has actually exceeded 183 donations. Gayle began donating whole blood when she was 20 years old.

“I was born and raised in California. When I was about 20 I decided to give whole blood when there was a blood drive at the hospital where I worked. I was scared to death – needles didn’t bother me, but I had heard that some folks fainted or threw up and I was so afraid of embarrassing myself,” Gayle stated.

Avoiding her fears, Gayle chatted her way through her first donation and from then on, Gayle became a regular.

Years later Gayle and her husband moved to Indiana. In 1976 Gayle’s husband was hospitalized for Chron’s disease and had three surgeries within four days where he received numerous blood transfusions. Between the move and “life” donating blood became hard to fit in Gayle’s schedule.

Several years later Gayle’s husband had open heart surgery and required even more blood.

It was after her husband’s open heart surgery when Gayle knew it was time to make donating blood part of her routine, yet again.

Charlotte Hickle, an Indiana Blood Center staff members stated,

“Gayle is kind, thoughtful and truly believes in donating. Gayle is a very generous donor and has a good sense of humor.”

On top of being a regular blood donor, Gayle volunteers at her church’s food pantry twice a week.

“All of this is as much a blessing to me as to the ones we serve,” Gayle stated.

We thank Gayle for sharing her story and hope her dedication inspires others to give back.

Follow Gayle’s lead and Raise Your Sleeve. Go to DonorPoint.org and make an appointment to save a life today.

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April 25, 2012

Paying it Forward

Kathy Hohenstreiter, from Seymour, Indiana donates blood every chance she gets. Kathy’s life has been directly affected by blood and therefore, she has become a dedicated Indiana Blood Centerdonor. Below Kathy shares her inspiring story.

Trey (in red) and his brother, Trent

My husband, Dwayne and I became avid blood donors back in 2006 when our then 4-year-old son, Trey, was diagnosed with leukemia.

Trey quickly began chemotherapy to treat his leukemia. Chemotherapy would kill all of Trey’s “good blood cells,” making him extremely weak and tired. When Trey began feeling this way, there was only one thing that seemed to make him livelier and that was blood. We ALWAYS knew when he needed blood or platelets.

Blood would put the energy right back into Trey. After Trey received a blood transfusion, it felt like we would leave Riley with a whole different kid then when we walked in earlier that day.

Trey had 13 blood transfusions and five platelet transfusions. And before each and every transfusion, Trey, Dwayne and I would pray for the person who donated the blood. We knew these were special people because they took the time out of their lives and day-to-day activities to donate blood.

I speak for only myself, but I know that if I could see what donating blood did for my 4-year-old son, I know it will do the same for others.

Today I have a healthy 10-year-old boy because people took an hour out of their day to donate blood.

We are blessed because people took time, and it is now time for us to pay it forward! Dwayne and I both try to donate every 56 days!

Donating blood saves the lives of kids fighting cancer, but it also saves the hearts of all the parents watching their children go through this, knowing there are people who care!

Blood saves lives and so should you. Raise Your Sleeve in honor of Trey and his courageous fight for life! Make an appointment at DonorPoint.org.

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April 16, 2012

40 Random Acts of Kindness

Meet Marsha.

Marsha Winters is from Terre Haute, Indiana and recently celebrated her 40th birthday. Similar to many others, Marsha was not particularly looking forward to turning 40. Regardless of how much Marsha dreaded that day, 40 was going to come sooner than later. Instead of focusing on the wrinkles and reading glasses that came along with 40, Marsha decided to celebrate her 40 wonderful years of life.

“I do have to give credit to becoming older because I think it has allowed me to start seeing what really matters in this life… and that is, life is short. I needed to start the change I wanted to see in this world,” Marsha stated.

In order to properly celebrate her 40 years of life, Marsha’s Birthday Project came to fruition. This project was inspired by a similar one Marsha came across on the Internet a few months back.

For her 40th birthday, Marsha created a list of 40 random acts of kindness that she could set out to do in her own community the week of her birthday. Marsha planned to document all 40 random acts of kindness by sharing each act through photos and comments on her Facebook page.

Marsha compiled a list of 40 random acts of kindness and set out to accomplish her list of good deeds. From sending a thank you note to gifting cupcakes to the nurses at her local hospital, and from donating blankets to donating money to the disaster relief fund, Marsha was able to give back to more people than she had hoped. (See complete list below).

When asked what the most rewarding random act of kindness was that she performed, Marsha responded, “donating blood.”

Marsha and her husband, Bobby, donating blood at Indiana Blood Center's Terre Haute donor center

“I couldn’t think of a better way to give back, pay it forward, than helping others in need.”

As a first time blood donor, Marsha offers words of encouragement to those who have never donated before, “Just think about it. Think of all the people that it can help. Make it personal. Think of someone who you know that has benefited from a blood transfusion and do it for him or her as an appreciation.”

From saving lives to putting a smile on a strangers face, Marsha received the best birthday gift of all, a happy heart.

One year older, five days later and 40 random acts of kindness checked of her list, Marsha’s Birthday Project was a success. Although Marsha’s 40 candles are no longer burning, her wish is that the gift of kindness will shine forever.

“I hope that in some small way that by me sharing this with you that you will become inspired to make a difference in someone else’s life. It doesn’t have to be big and as you can see, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, but it is something that can change a world…one person at a time, one birthday at a time.”

Follow Marsha’s lead. Begin today with good deed number 26, donating blood. Make an appointment to save a life, today.

Marsha’s 40 Random Acts of Kindness

  1. Donate money to the Disaster Relief at the Grocery Store
  2. Send a Thank You to someone who has made a difference in my life
  3. Take treats to the Humane Society
  4. Give someone a Free Car Wash
  5. Tape popcorn to Redbox for Movie night
  6. Take cookies to Fire Dept
  7. Take flowers to Nursing Home
  8. Take cookies to Groomer
  9. Take change to Laundromat
  10. Take cookies to Police Dept
  11. Take cupcakes to nurses at the hospital
  12. Take crayons and coloring books to the waiting room at the hospital
  13. Take balloons to sick patients in Hospital
  14. Free drink at vending machine
  15. Donate old phones to Hope Line
  16. Put money in donation box at McDonalds
  17. Pay for someone in line behind you at McDonalds
  18. Push up Grocery Carts
  19. Give someone a Walmart Gift Card
  20. Give a Food Donation for Feed the Hungry Program
  21. Pick up neighbors Trash cans
  22. Give juice box donation to preschoolers
  23. Read to the preschoolers at Ryves
  24. Give clothes donation to Kiducation
  25. Give Starbucks gift card to someone in drive thru
  26. Give blood 
  27. Thank the Mailman
  28. Thank the Trash man
  29. Donate bottle caps
  30. Send care package to Solders
  31. Give one hour massage to single mom
  32. Donate blanket for Project Linus
  33. Take lunch to a friend who is at work
  34. Take cupcakes to Deborah’s house for the kids
  35. Pay for 2 kids admission to museum
  36. Take quarters to vending machine at museum
  37. Leave gift card in favorite children’s book (Olivia)
  38. Take close to Lighthouse Mission
  39. Donate to Reading Buddies Program at Library
  40. Buy a gas card and give to someone at the gas station

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March 28, 2012

Tally Up Your Good Deeds With Trensy

What is your motivator behind donating blood? Cookies? One hour out of math class? Giving back to your community?

There are numerous reasons behind donating blood, but the number one reason blood donors say they give is because they want to help others. Donating blood is a selfless, good deed that provides a simple foundation for giving back.

Next time you partake in this selfless action, why not rack up some points? Allow me to introduce to you, trensy - foursquare for social good – an entertaining, easy-to-use application where one can earn points for all his or her good deeds, while competing against other “do-gooders” in your community.

Below, Bryan Naas, CEO and Co-Founder of the Indianapolis based company, trensy, shares more about why and how to engage with trensy.

Competition is a part of our daily lives. Most of us partake in competition at work, when we cheer on our favorite sports teams, and even at home with the classic sibling rivalries. Good and bad, people are competitive by nature. At trensy, we are tapping into this competitive nature as a force for good. 

At its core, trensy is working to change the way people think about community service by making it fun, competitive and everyday instead of just when convenient. Using smartphones and web apps, users find and check in good deeds they do throughout the day to earn points and awards. Trensy is a great way for people to get involved and make their community a better place.

Imagine the groups you associate with: your city, your school, your church, your work. These make up your teams on trensy. The good deeds you do in the community earn points to help your teams move up the leaderboards.

Raising Your Sleeve at Indiana Blood Center can help your Fishers team move past Carmel in the City Challenge.

Picking up some unsightly litter as you walk into the office can help your IU team move past Purdue in the College Challenge.

Whatever you choose, whatever your team, it’s all for the good of the community.

Which teams will you join? Get involved now to be sure your favorites are winning and help improve your community and the world. Join trensy today!

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March 16, 2012

Questions & Answers with Dr. Dan Waxman

Dr. Dan Waxman, Indiana Blood Center’s Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Director signed onto our Facebook page yesterday morning for our first ever, “Live Question & Answer Session.”

Below is a list of the questions asked, along with Dr. Waxman’s answers.

Q: I have the sickle-cell trait and I am unable to donate blood. Will there ever be a time where it would be safe to donate blood?

A: The issue with donors with sickle-cell trait is the donation cannot be filtered. We filter whole blood to remove white blood cells. Unfortunately, because 100% of donations are filtered you are unable to donate.

Q: I had an outpatient surgery in November of 2011, when will I be able to donate again?

A: It depends on the type of surgery. If it is not for cancer or heart surgery and if you were not transfused, you should be fine to donate if you are now in good health and released by your surgeon.

Q: Are there any requirements for donating platelets?

A: For platelets, we like for someone to be a whole blood donor first so they go through the screening process. Also, we are actively recruiting male platelet donors as they have a higher platelet count and can actually donate 2 or even 3 adult doses of platelets each time they donate.

Thanks for all of those who tuned in and asked questions. For more questions and answers, please check out our FAQ page on our website. If you are ever looking for an immediate answer, please feel free to call 317.916.5150 or 1.800.632.4722.

Make sure you Like Indiana Blood Center’s Facebook page because Dr. Waxman will be back in about a month to answer more of your questions.

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March 1, 2012

Donor of the Month

As we continue with the Donor of the Month Series, we are happy to announce Indiana Blood Center’s donor of the month…

Gary Wobler of Carmel, Indiana

To date, Wobler has donated 57 times. His specialty is platelets with the occasional whole blood donation.

Wobler’s decision to become a blood donor came easy when his late wife was found to have breast cancer. Wobler saw first-hand the positive impact blood had throughout his wife’s treatment.

“My late wife and I always tried to help others less fortunate and before she passed away she made me promise to never stop,” Wobler stated.

From that moment on, Wobler became a dedicated blood donor. Thelma and Yolanda, two Indiana Blood Center staff members stated,

“Gary is more than a dedicated donor, he has become our friend.”

Unfortunately, Wobler recently lost his brother-in-law to leukemia. But Wobler claims because of the generosity of blood donors, he and his family were able to be with him that much longer.

Wobler donates regularly knowing he is giving back and helping those in need.

Wobler also likes the extra perk of the mini physical he receives each time he donates. Thanks to the routine cholesterol check, Wobler was informed by Indiana Blood Center that his cholesterol levels were high, which led him to take immediate action to get his levels under control.

We thank Wobler for sharing his story and hope his personal experience with blood inspires others to give back.

Follow Wobler’s lead and Raise Your Sleeve. Go to DonorPoint.org to make an appointment to save a life today.

Learn more about how Wobler carries on his wife’s legacy by visiting www.arlenewobler.com.

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