As a volunteer board member for the Lowcountry Chapter of the Red Cross of South Carolina, Christy Whitlock never anticipated she would one day have a personal story to share of someone in her family needing Red Cross services.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Christy’s mother, Carol Cooper decided to isolate herself at her home in Pawley’s Island. To protect her health, she did everything she could to keep from getting sick.

During her quarantine, she suffered a fall and later had no recollection of the accident. Carol discovered bruises on her body and mentioned them to her two children, but she still was reluctant to go to the hospital for fear of catching the COVID-19 virus. Her fear was not unfounded, as she had lost four family members to the coronavirus in recent months.

Carol took ibuprofen to manage her increasing pain and, unfortunately, developed gastrointestinal issues from self-medicating. She called her son for help and collapsed in his arms. Christy rushed to her mother’s side, and together Christy and her brother delivered their mother to the hospital. Carol’s internal bleeding was so severe that after pumping blood from her abdomen, she needed a transfusion and received seven pints of blood.

“I didn’t realize how big of a deal it is for recipients. Blood is medicine,” said Christy on the lifesaving power of the transfusions for her mother. “Make time to give blood and schedule it just like you would anything else, like going to the dentist. Let it be a part of your lifestyle – it saves lives.”

Thanks to the generosity of blood donors, Carol is on the mend and feeling better. You can help make sure there is blood on the shelves to help people like Christy’s mom. Schedule a blood donation today: redcrossblood.org