For North Carolina Resident, Sharon Munoz, blood donation is not an abstract act of kindness—it is the reason her family is alive today.

Her story begins on Christmas Day in 1999, the day her son was born. While in labor, Sharon experienced severe complications and urgently needed three pints of blood. Because blood was already on the hospital shelves—donated by people she would never meet—both Sharon and her newborn son survived.

“Without those units already waiting for me, neither my son nor I would be here,” Sharon said. “Someone chose to donate before they even knew we existed. Their gift became our second chance at life.”

That lifesaving generosity allowed Sharon to watch her son grow up. Today, he is nearly 26 years old.

Years later, her family would once again rely on the generosity of blood donors—this time during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Sharon’s son needed kidney reconstruction surgery and lost a significant amount of blood. With donations critically low, there were no units immediately available.

“I remember standing outside the hospital, crying and begging people to donate so my son could survive,” Sharon recalled.

In that moment of desperation, a stranger approached her and offered help.

“He said, ‘I’ll donate for your son. I just lost my family for the same reason. Let me pay it forward,’” Sharon said.

That single act—rooted in both grief and compassion—helped save her son’s life.

“He is alive today because someone chose to give, even in the middle of their own pain,” Sharon shared.

Now, Sharon is preparing to donate blood herself as a way to honor the people who once saved her family. Each donation is an act of remembrance and hope.

“I donate in honor of my son and in honor of those anonymous heroes,” she said. “They remind me that behind every unit of blood, there is a story, a family, and a chance to keep hope alive.”

Sharon wants others to understand that donating blood is about more than a single moment—it’s about being ready when someone’s life depends on it.

“You’re not ‘just’ giving blood—you’re giving a family the chance to stay together,” she said. “Somewhere there is a mom in surgery, a child in an accident, or a patient fighting cancer who won’t have time to wait.”

She also encourages first-time donors who may feel nervous.

“That’s completely normal,” Sharon said. “The process is safe, the staff guide you every step of the way, and it usually takes about an hour. But the impact can last a lifetime.”

For Sharon, blood donation is a powerful way to leave a lasting legacy.

“You may never meet the person you help,” she said, “but you’ll always know that somewhere, because of you, a family got to hear the words: ‘They’re going to be okay.’”

Through stories like Sharon’s, the American Red Cross continues to remind communities that the blood supply depends on everyday heroes—people who choose to give, long before they know who will need it most. Learn more and schedule your appointment to donate blood at: redcrossblood.org