Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving 2011! The past few years we have given our wonderful Blood Centers of the Pacific staff the opportunity to say “Thank you”. And of course, this year we still are thankful every day for our Northern California community and all of the amazing blood donors that so generously save the lives of patients at the hospitals we serve.

But this year we wanted to give you all the chance to help us say “Thank you” to our amazing employees, who join you in that lifesaving generosity to help patients every single day. Here’s what you had to say:

Thanks for treating your job more than just as a job. Every time I am in to donate, I am treated well, and not just stabbed to get the job done. - Julie Nettleton

I’m thankful for Stacy at the Redwood City location because she can always find my hard-to-find vein the first time, every time! Also, I just LOVE spending my Blood Heroes points! - Laurel Redd Feddock

Just wonderful people to spend a few moments with, thank you all - Neal Rhorer

I am so blessed to always be taken care of by Jennifer & or Kevin when I visit Napa. The staff is wonderful about always coming over to chat with you during your visit. Never fails to hear a hello & a good day from everyone. - Jean Dalia Jr

The only reason I give blood is to see that pretty blond lady. Oh no I think I see blood shooting under my skin. Gonna look bad for me now! - Gary R Harmon

Just donated @ Elk’s Club SF - everyone who welcomed me & greeted me, was kind, caring & made me feel comfortable. Always grateful to donate blood & the welcoming smiles make it a little more pleasant! Thank you. - Valerie Martini

I’ve been donating blood at the Chico Tinseltown drive for quite some time now ... ALL the staff members are fabulous. Every single one of them, on every single visit, go above and beyond. Genuine smiles, funny stories, relaxed atmosphere. Always a welcoming greeting and a grateful fairwell. I always look forward to my chance to donate and now my daughter is 16 and will start joining me. Thanks BCP ! - Stacy Moran

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Several years ago I decided that a way for me to give back is to donate blood, all it cost me is my time, and it can save someone else’s life.  I have since decided to donate the platelets & plasma to help cancer patients.Last year my father was struck with lung cancer & had to have a blood transfusion.  I am very grateful for everyone that not only donates but those of you that are working hard daily to collect our blood, platelets & plasma. Again, thank you thank you thank you, I am very grateful for all of you there! You all always have smiles on your faces & are very friendly no matter the location I choose to donate! - Katherine

I donate at the Irving Center on Masonic in San Francisco and every time I go in the staff recognize me and greet me by name. How fantastic is that?! Of course, it probably helps that I’m there every 2 weeks! LOL - Dennis McCormick-Kovacich

Thanks to everyone @ the downtown S. Francisco location, including Ellie, Chuck, & Henrico who took my pint on Monday. Happy holidays! (sorry for not remembering every name!) - Kimberly MacInnis

Thanks for making my donating experience comforting!! Big thanks to the Fairfield Gateway location. - Kyndra Maya

Even though i’m not able to donate anymore because of my frequent seizures, i still appreciate the effort of the blood centers calling and asking me to donate blood platelets because i know they are only trying to help others. hope to be able to donate soon - Sabrina Watson

Thank you to the bloodmobile team who is parked every Monday on Springs Road in Vallejo! You people do a great job, and it’s always nice to see you. - Lewis Bornmann

Thank you to everyone at the Bush Street location, including the volunteers in the kitchen who offer to pour my juice and offer a snack. Also thank you to the person who calls me to remind me that I am eligible. I’m always happy to receive the reminder call. Donating blood is my favorite community service. - Eileen Siegel Bowen

First, thank you to the staff who calls to make the appointment. They have all been extremely friendly and happy to help in any what. Secondly, the staff at the Redwood City facility is awesome. Thanks to each one of you for making each of my donations a breeze. Also, thanks for my Lorna Doone fix each time. It’s the only time I eat them! - Jim Golding

Thank you, Redwood City staff! They are always good to me (and my son who comes along). - Laurel Redd Feddock

Thanks to the Walnut Creek branch. You guys are always so friendly! - Matthew Hudson

A thank you to the folks working at the Millbrae center on Friday, November 11. I donated at that center that day, and everyone I spoke to was kind, professional, and just great to be around. Made my donation that
much better! - Jennifer Gile

Blood Centers of the Pacific provides a wonderful service to the community. They not only save lives, but improve life for which myself, and many others out there are truly thankful. - Robin Black

Thanks to the great staff at the Diablo location in Walnut Creek!! I am always greeted with a smile and always have nice conversations with the techs while they take my blood. - Sharon Rettig

Thank you to the Irwin center! They rock - Marni Kent

The folks at Diablo ROCK! Always make the process so easy and painless, and treat me like an old friend when I come in. - Sean Donnelly

Redding! - Colin Peacock 

So thankful for the Blood Centers and blood donors!!! My son Matthew wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for so many wonderful donors!!!! Thank you to all! - Deanna La Croix

Thank you to our amazing employees, thank you to those who work at the hospitals we serve, and a huge thank you to all of you blood donors who bring smiles to OUR faces when you come in to save lives. We are always happy to see you. Happy Thanksgiving! 

photo source

Amy’s Story

My name is Amy and this is my story.

I am normally a very healthy person but in May of 2010 I started to feel sick, different from other times I haven’t felt well. After having blood work done the results showed my liver enzymes were high. I learned that I might have contracted a form of hepatitis or have an autoimmune disease so my doctor ordered more blood work. When those tests came back negative the doctor scheduled a CT scan of my entire abdomen. Those results also came back normal. Still unsure as to why my liver enzymes were high I was referred to a liver specialist.

By June 6th I had become so ill that I never made that appointment. I went to the ER and the doctors decided I need to be flown from my hometown of McCloud to the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) because my liver was failing and my levels of clotting factors was very low which could lead to me bleeding to death. I arrived at UCSF and the minute I got there they ran more tests and put me in the ICU.

We were told I would need blood transfusions so when friends and family asked what they could do for me I asked them to donate blood. I received 70 units of lifesaving blood components while at UCSF.

My liver biopsy revealed 75% of my liver was gone. I would need a liver transplant for sure and was put on the waiting list. I fell into a coma on June 13th, and I was now first on the transplant waiting list. My family received word that evening that a donor liver was found and I received my new liver on June 14th 2010. I woke up from my coma two days later and was able to go home from the hospital eight days later.

It has been an amazing journey so far, one I will never forget. The doctors never did find out the cause of my liver failure. I am one of the 20% that will never know why it happened. But I do know that blood donors and organ donor saved my life. And I am forever grateful.

Thank you donors.