By Crystal Reiss

When Catalina Ramirez-Vaughn was five years old and living in Mexico, something unforgettable happened to her younger sister, who was just a toddler at the time. Catalina was so affected by witnessing the incident and its aftermath that it has become her main motivation for organizing blood donation campaigns that support the American Red Cross.

It was 1964, and her mother had just given birth to a younger brother. Grandma was looking after the children while drawing a bath of stove-boiled water because, as Catalina said, “We didn’t have running water.”

“My sister,” Catalina recalled, “didn’t listen to Grandma’s warnings to stay out of the hot water.” It happened so quickly that no one had time to stop the toddler, who stumbled into the scalding bath water.

“She burnt 75 percent of her body,” said Catalina. “[She] was in the hospital for a year; she had to have blood transfusions,” which Catalina later learned had been possible due to Red Cross blood drives. Skin grafts and countless surgeries followed until, eventually, Catalina’s sister recovered.

A Tragedy Leads to Good

“When I went to America in 1969 and I saw the sign of the Red Cross, I was intrigued,” said Catalina. That curiosity about the work of the Red Cross remained, and eventually, in 2022, Catalina wanted to make a difference through her church – New Hope Christian Fellowship – located blocks from the Hayward BART station.

“The minute I started working for the church, I wanted to provide help to the community,” she said. That’s when she contacted the Red Cross and began organizing blood drives. Six times a year, she invites people in her community to join her in rolling up their sleeves to give blood, and each time she meets her goal of hosting about 30 donors who are dedicated to saving lives through these critical donations. Many fellow parishioners and friends thank Catalina for these blood drives because they appreciate being able to donate blood in a convenient location.

Working Together for Hope

Catalina always makes sure to recognize and thank two pillars of her church community, Senior Pastors Tim Russell and Randy Rasmussen. Without them, Catalina gratefully shared, she couldn’t do what she does.

“We want to be the beacon in this corner,” Catalina said about the church’s work in hosting Red Cross blood drives and providing programs for vulnerable communities with health and substance abuse issues. All of these efforts have created strong bonds, bringing her community together.

It takes a village, some say, to raise a child, just as it takes a strong and compassionate community to save lives.

Catalina’s next blood drive will take place on June 6, 2024, at New Hope Christian Fellowship, 22110 Montgomery Street, Hayward, CA.  You can make an appointment to donate blood at redcrossblood.org.