By Bethany Bray Patterson, American Red Cross Regional Communications Manager

An aggressive chemotherapy treatment sent Gail Boesel’s cancer into remission, but it also zapped every ounce of energy she had. Her hemoglobin levels would drop so low during treatment that things like spending time outdoors, having a conversation with a friend or even just crossing the room were too exhausting.

“I could hardly function,” recalls Boesel, who lives outside of Annapolis, Maryland.

And, when she wasn’t able to attend her book group, spend time with her grandchildren and do the other things she loved, “her world started getting smaller and smaller,” says Gail’s daughter, Alison Risso.

Not only did the chemo “knock her flat” physically, it began to crush her mentally, says Risso, who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland. “She really didn’t want to fight anymore.”

This trajectory reversed course after Gail’s doctor recommended a blood transfusion to help boost her hemoglobin levels. She ended up receiving 10 blood transfusions throughout the course of her treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma last year.

Each transfusion gave her the energy to do things like have a friend over, celebrate her birthday – and, most importantly, continue treatment.

Simply put, the transfusions “kept her in the fight,” says Risso.

“Even just with one unit of blood, she could get up and cross the room [again], and start doing things for herself,” Risso says. “A blood donor helped her see the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.”

Low blood count is a common side effect of cancer and cancer treatments. Blood is so important during treatment that patients fighting cancer use nearly one quarter of the nation’s blood supply — more than patients fighting any other disease.

The American Red Cross estimates that six blood products are needed every minute to help someone going through cancer treatment somewhere in the U.S.

Boesel credits the blood transfusions with making all the difference in her cancer treatment, saying “I’ve been the recipient of a lot of gracious giving.”

“Every time I had a transfusion, I thought about who might have given that blood, and was exceedingly grateful that people had stepped up [to donate],” says Boesel. “To say that it was lifesaving is an understatement. It was continuously lifesaving … it was the underpinning that kept me able to receive treatment.”

Risso had always donated blood throughout her adult life, but now it has a very personal connection for her. She donates blood with the Red Cross because she knows the direct lifeline it is for recipients – as it was for her mother.

“Out there somewhere is a person [blood donor] who my mom and I couldn’t thank and we’re super, super grateful. It was someone who took 15 minutes to donate as they were driving home from work, or on their lunch hour, and they gave my mom her life back and the strength to carry through this,” says Risso. “Whoever you are, we want to thank you.”

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The need for blood is constant. Blood donations to the Red Cross help ensure new moms, premature babies, cancer patients and accident victims have access to safe, lifesaving blood.

Every day, volunteer blood and platelet donors are needed across the country to help save lives. When you roll up a sleeve to donate, you help change a life.

Schedule an appointment to donate today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org.