Written by Isabel Anderson, Cascades Regional Communications Manager
In the winter months, blood and platelet donations decrease due to extreme weather conditions closing drives, holiday travel and seasonal flu. However, the need for blood stays consistent. It takes no breaks for holidays. As we enter 2026, the blood supply has not kept up with the demand. A national severe blood shortage has been announced and a call to donate is going out to all potential donors. Lynn Sivaivai, a Red Cross phlebotomist, sees the need first hand and does everything she can to help.
This month marks Lynn’s 29th anniversary with the Red Cross, a milestone rooted in her unwavering belief in saving lives. Along the way, she has worn many hats, including seven years as an apheresis educator, teaching staff about the life‑saving power of platelet and plasma donation.
As Lynn recounts her days as an apheresis teacher, an infectious smile spreads across her face, “Talk about lifesaving – I’ll make a difference doing it and then make a difference training it!”
Lynn knows the need for platelets is constant but just a few years ago, it became personal. Her niece was an avid platelet donor until she was diagnosed with subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. Unfortunately, she passed at age 34. Lynn’s sister donates on her birthday in honor of her. Lynn will soon join in that tradition.
In the meantime, Lynn donates with her family whenever possible. Lynn recalls a birthday trip she took to Virginia to visit her son, “What did I want to do for my birthday? We both donated platelets!”
As Lynn donates in the newly integrated Portland blood donor center, she notes the advantages of these changes. One of which is to use offer donors, who are unable to donate platelets, the chance to donate whole blood instead. “If donors don’t have the veins for platelets, we could still do blood,” she explains.
The new center also sparks conversations and curiosity between platelet, whole blood and power red donors leading to donors trying new forms of donations. In turn, new connections between donors are being made. Which makes sense because after all, “This is where the nicest people are, the people who give […] These are the people you want to meet,” says Lynn.
When asked why she keeps coming back to donate, Lynn says, “I had to look at the bigger picture — what it does.”
That bigger picture is what keeps her coming back — both as an employee and a donor. Now it’s your turn to take a seat in the donor chair and bring the nation out of this severe blood shortage. Schedule an appointment to donate today at RedCrossBlood.org.
Lynn Sivaivai donating platelets at the newly renovated Portland Blood Donor Center.
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