Three generations of donors, Melody Milloy Scott (left), Shirley Simmons (center) and Patrick Milloy (right) come together on St. Patrick’s Day to support the mission of saving lives.
A well‑known donor family honored their late father’s legacy by giving blood at an American Red Cross blood center on what would have been his 100th birthday, St. Patrick’s Day. The family of three gathered at the Pasadena Red Cross Blood Donation Center wearing green to celebrate their father, Peter “Pat” Ross, whose need for blood during multiple surgeries first inspired their commitment to donating, said daughter Melody Scott.
Shirley Simmons, 96, has been a dedicated blood donor for decades. She has donated 91 tracked units, a testament to her decades of dedication. Donating in honor of her husband, who was born on St. Patrick’s Day, is deeply meaningful to her and her family. Her husband received lifesaving blood transfusions in three different hospitals, and Shirley says the experience strengthened her belief in the Red Cross mission.
She speaks warmly about the connections she’s made over the years. “The Red Cross takes such good care of me. I’ve made wonderful friends here,” she said. “It only takes an hour—and that one hour can save a life.”
Melody Scott donates blood five to six times a year and traces her passion for donating back to her mother’s example. Her father, Peter Ross, affectionately called Pat by his friends, passed away twenty‑five years ago. “It’s important to me because it saves lives,” Melody said.
“The Red Cross takes such good care of me. I’ve made wonderful friends here,” Shirley said. “It only takes an hour—and that one hour can save a life.”
About three years ago, Patrick Simmons, who regularly donates platelets, had an experience that reaffirmed his commitment to the Red Cross mission. While wearing a Red Cross T‑shirt, he was approached by a woman undergoing cancer treatment who thanked him for donating. Patrick, named after his father Pat, said he was first inspired to give because his grandmother needed blood during heart surgery. When he became old enough, the Red Cross offered him the opportunity to donate platelets, and he has continued ever since.
The family chooses to give through the American Red Cross because of their long history of donating and the comfort they feel walking into a Red Cross blood center. All three share the same blood type, O positive, and understand the critical role their donations play in helping patients facing life‑threatening illness or injury.
Together, this family continues to honor their father’s legacy by helping ensure blood is available when patients need it most, carrying forward a tradition of compassion, service, and lifesaving generosity.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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