A Bay Area resident whose life was saved by anonymous blood donors got the opportunity to meet and thank some of her actual blood donors. This rare opportunity – dubbed a “patient-blood donors reunion” – was held on Wednesday, August 24th at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco.
This event was particularly timely, as the Bay Area has been facing one of its longest blood shortages in 10 years.
Meghan Daily was a sophomore in college when she needed almost 1,000 units of donated blood after she was diagnosed with a rare blood disease. Treated at Kaiser Walnut Creek, Meghan was in the hospital for three months fighting for her life.
“I received 987 units of blood components during my treatment,” said Meghan, who ironically, ran a blood drive her senior year at Miramonte High school in Orinda. “If there weren’t 987 people to give blood, I wouldn’t be alive right now.”
Meghan, now 23, lives and works on the Peninsula and is completely healthy. She was thrilled by the chance to meet her “angels,” as she calls them. Meghan also used this occasion to illustrate the tremendous need for more blood donors, as well as the miraculous power of donated blood.
“With blood supplies running dangerously low this summer, I’m hoping this event underscored the fact that anyone, anywhere, anytime, can need blood,” commented Meghan. “Thankfully, the blood was there for me, but I’m concerned it won’t be there for others.”
Blood Centers of the Pacific
Lisa Bloch
(415) 749-6612