Headed in the Right Direction

Nick Razzo was driving one day, when he realized something was wrong. He had been driving in the wrong direction for the past 40 miles, going north when he was supposed to head south to San Jose, CA.

“I had been feeling fatigued for several months and at first thought it was due to stress, work or that I had been exercising two hours every morning,” said Nick, 53. “But when I drove in the wrong direction that day, I definitely knew it was something more serious and decided to visit the doctor.”

Nick had a liver panel check and after several tests were conducted, was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. He needed a liver transplant.

“I was checked into CPMC (California Pacific Medical Center) in October 2002,” said Nick, father of two sons. “Seven months later on May 3rd, 2003, I received my liver transplant and as a result used blood and lots of plasma. I had also bled internally twice needing more blood.”

Although Nick doesn’t know how much blood he used, a typical liver transplant uses 50 blood components and more.

“I am thankful for all those people who donated blood and saved my life,” said Nick who’s self-employed. “Donating blood doesn’t cost a think and it helps someone. It’s a great way to give something back. Please donate blood if you can donate! You may be helping someone very close to you or some day helping yourself.”

Nick undergoes blood tests every two months to ensure his liver is functioning healthily, and checks in with his doctor every six months.

And after all that Nick has been through, his outlook on life is positive and upbeat. “I wake up every day and live for that. You don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Nick. “With the economic downturn, I took a hit and was depressed for awhile but then I thought, why get depressed when I have a wonderful wife and two kids. I should be happy!”

Nick is currently doing well and in high spirits. He also helps spread the awareness about blood donation and how it saved his life by speaking at several events in the community.

BCP wishes Nick continued health, and thanks him for taking up the cause of blood donation!

photo from faramarz

Rams Save Lives

Game day location: Irwin Center, San Francisco

Team: Gung-ho CCSF football players

Game plan
Work with BCP account representative
Recruit “team players”
Distribute materials on technique
Educate players on their game day positions

Warm-up session
Pizza, pasta and salad, lots of water
Fill out donor history questionnaire

On Wednesday, March 17th, Coach George Rush led his team of football players from City College San Francisco (CCSF) to the Irwin Center. The goal? To help save lives.

“I believe giving back is a privilege,” said Coach Rush, who’s in his 34th year as head coach at CCSF. “My wife and I have always donated blood, and this year we thought it would be great for the team to save lives through blood donation as well. We hope to make it a regular blood drive.”

Many like Offensive Line, Jeff Ferrier, 19, were first-time blood donors. And many like him, also knew someone who had received blood. “I knew a kid on the football team who had a blood transfusion,” said Jeff, a freshman.

Free Safety Deshon Marman, 19, also knew someone who received blood – his 25-year-old cousin. “He was involved in a car accident,” said Deshon, who will be a sophomore next year. “And he received blood transfusions which saved his life. Although he was paralyzed, through physical therapy he began to regain strength in his arms and is doing better today.”

Deshon began donating blood when he was a student at Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco. “They made donating blood sound cool there,” said Deshon, who wants to be a counselor or teacher in the future.

First-time blood donor and also middle line backer, Vaughn Boatner, 20, said, “The idea was scary, but it’s not bad at all. I would give blood again.”

And the winning score for the day: 18 whole blood donations, 10 double reds.

Total number of lives saved: 114 (one pint saves three lives)

Go Rams!

And thank you to all of our student blood donors and blood drive coordinators for the colleges that help us save lives here in Northern California. Happy Spring Break!