Story told by: Debbie Underwood, Red Cross Volunteer

When Donna Rhodes first rolled up her sleeve to donate blood, she never imagined she would one day rely on the same lifesaving gift.  

A longtime volunteer with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in Columbia and a key volunteer for the 2026 Battle of the Badges, Donna spent years giving blood, hoping her routine donations might help someone she would never meet. But after a devastating car accident, Donna became the patient in need of lifesaving blood. The donations she had long encouraged others to make suddenly became essential to her own survival. 

“I had a car accident in 1995, and it was very severe,” said Donna. “They ended up transfusing my entire blood supply three times.”  

The collision left her with severe injuries, requiring multiple transfusions. She recalls the moment she learned she needed blood as one of both fear and gratitude; fear for her condition, and gratitude that blood was available when she needed it most. “I never thought I’d be on the receiving end,” she said, reflecting on the surreal shift from donor to recipient. 

Her recovery was long, marked by surgeries, rehabilitation, and the slow rebuilding of strength. Throughout the process, Donna remained aware that her survival depended on the generosity of strangers. Some of them even created a blood drive in her honor. 

“When the folks in town heard that I’d had such a horrific car accident, they decided to contact the Red Cross and do a blood drive in my honor,” said Donna. “It was so successful that it went on for three days.” 

The Red Cross must collect enough blood every day to meet the needs of incidents such as accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer, or sickle cell disease. The blood that Donna once gave to help others had now come back to help her. 

Donna’s experience mirrors what biomedical teams emphasize: that the need for blood donations doesn’t take a break. The Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage as the nation’s blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. Blood donors are urgently needed to give now to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay. 

Those who donate between July 13th through July 31st will receive a Fandango Movie Ticket by email, a small token of appreciation meant to inspire a new generation of heroes during a month when every donation is critical. 

Donna hopes her story will encourage others to donate, not out of fear, but out of awareness. She believes that understanding the real-world impact of blood donation can motivate people to act. “You never know whose life you might be saving,” she said. “It could be someone you love; it could be someone like me.”