When Kelly Ellison watches her son ride his bike or build a tree fort in the backyard, she knows she is watching a miracle.

She shares a special bond with her 7-year-old son, Thor. They both needed blood and platelets.

“In 2013, I was pregnant with Thor and right away I was really sick,” says Ellison with her young son in her arms. “I started going to a lot of specialist and doctors and getting a lot of blood work. Every time, the conclusion and advice were the same, which was, ‘We do not know what is going on, it is complicated because you are pregnant. Your blood levels are dropping”

By 28 weeks into her pregnancy she had been admitted into the ICU and was bleeding from her mouth and nose.

“The doctors diagnosed me with a disease called severe Aplastic Anemia where the bone marrow in my body was not making enough blood lines to sustain my life or the life of my son,” said Ellison “I remained in the hospital until I was able to deliver Thor and in order to sustain our pregnancy until 33 weeks, I was a frequent recipient of blood and platelets.”

In fact, from her first stint into the Intensive Care Unit until about 2 years later, Ellison received more than 40 blood and platelet transfusions.

But the family quickly realized that Kelly was not the only one who would need help.

“When Thor was born, we could quicky tell that he was going to need blood and platelets because his blood levels matched mine. That was something I was not expecting and that was really disheartening,” Ellison says, holding back tears. “Thankfully, there were American Red Cross blood and platelet donors and he began to thrive. It was such a beautiful picture to me of someone giving of their life so that my son’s life could start creating on its own.”

Today, the younger brother to two older sisters, Thor loves riding his new red bike, playing board games with his mom, or playing in the pool with his family.

“We are so touched and so thankful because we can’t donate, but we get to receive. Sometimes, giving gifts is a blessing, but receiving something your body can’t make is life changing,” Ellison says. “It sounds cliché to say that there is not a day that goes by that I am not thankful, but it is the truth. Every day, in some way, I see my son and know that he is a miracle and I get to be a mother to our whole family.”

Every day, Red Cross blood donors have an opportunity to give something that means the world to patients in need, and the loved ones rallying behind them as they battle serious medical conditions. This year, many individuals are counting on perfect strangers to help care for their loved ones during the most vulnerable of times—while they’re alone in a hospital and undergoing medical procedures.

“We are here to tell our story and encourage other people to add value to other people’s lives by donating blood,” said Ellison. “There is no way to describe the impact that the Red Cross has had on our lives, but it will continue to be limitless.”

Eligible individuals are urged to make an appointment to donate now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

COVID-19 Blood Donation Safety

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.  

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.