Charlie Wortmann, NNJ Board Member
Brittany Knapp, SNJ Board Member
Lee Mueller, NNJ Board Member
In early summer, the American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage after the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. By the end of July, blood donations had fallen to a four-year low, worsening the emergency shortage and threatening patient care. As the nation's largest single provider of blood products, the Red Cross had less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood — the most commonly transfused blood type. In order to help ensure blood was available for patients facing the most critical, life-threatening emergencies across the country, the Red Cross had begun limiting distributions of type O blood to individual hospitals. It was a crisis.
The Red Cross called upon donors to give blood and platelets to help ensure patients would receive lifesaving medical care without delay. Despite busy summer schedules, Red Cross volunteer blood donors stepped up and helped the Red Cross overcome a dangerous situation. Like the superheroes they are, countless donors helped ensure that blood was again available for patients across the country.
Red Cross Board Members in New Jersey were at the forefront of this mission, leading by example.
Several board members and our executive directors rolled up their own sleeves at local blood drives and Red Cross Blood Donations Centers across New Jersey.
SNJ Executive Director Rachel Lippoff
Izumi Hara, NNJ Board Member
Kathleen Beatty, NNJ Board Member
NNJ Executive Director Andy Stone
For some, it was personal.
Lee Mueller, Board Member with Northern New Jersey, made an appointment and donated at the Elvis Duran and The Morning Show blood drive in Jersey City on July 31.
Lee gave birth to her son in September of 2021 at the end of a healthy pregnancy. But after giving birth she experienced complications due to a retained placenta, where a portion of the placenta remained in her body.
“My body was unable to start clotting to stop the bleeding, so I needed emergency surgery. I lost basically a two-liter bottle worth of blood due to hemorrhaging. As I was recovering, the doctor suggested a blood transfusion would be beneficial. I was hesitant at first, but realized I was going home with a newborn,” said Lee.
The three units of blood Lee received made a big difference.
“After I received the transfusion, I was walking around the hospital feeling a drastic improvement. I hadn't realized how poorly I was feeling until I received the transfusion,” said Lee.
As with many patients turned blood donors, donating blood for Lee was a full-circle moment and an opportunity for her to give back after being on the receiving end of a blood donation.
Brittany Knapp, a Southern New Jersey Board Member and Chief Operating Officer of AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center also made a huge difference during the blood shortage.
On August 4, AtlantiCare hosted a successful blood drive in honor of Sgt. Christian Ivanov, who received life-saving blood during his recovery from life-threatening injuries sustained in the line of duty. Officers with the Atlantic City Police Department, hospital staff, and community members rolled up their sleeves and combined, donating a total 76 units of blood.
In Northern New Jersey, Board Member Charlie Wortmann organized a blood drive in Sparta, bringing together community members who donated a combined total of 41 units of blood.
Community blood drives like these are vital to helping meet the constant need for blood by offering convenient opportunities for blood donors to give. The Red Cross is grateful to all of the incredible donors who made appointments and donated blood and platelets to help overcome this crisis.
Heading into September, the blood supply remains vulnerable, and the Red Cross continues to urge donors to make appointments to ensure that blood is available for those who need it most. Make you appointment at redcrossblood.org or by using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.
Red Cross Volunteer Holly Pavlika contributed to this story
