In January 2010, Melanie Wingard needed double fusion surgery on her back. While she was recovering, she later learned she’d received a blood transfusion during the surgery. 

“I remember my parents telling me that the surgery was only supposed to take five hours, and then it got to be six hours,” said Melanie of her experience with needing a blood transfusion. “Everything had gone ok with the surgery, but I had lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion.”

Blood transfusions are one of the most common hospital procedures, and every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood transfusions are used to help treat kids battling cancer, accident victims rushed to emergency rooms, individuals undergoing scheduled surgeries, and people with complicated childbirths.

“The first time I gave blood was two years ago. I work at a school, and we usually hold a blood drive,” Melanie described how she became a blood donor after first becoming a blood recipient. “Another teacher and I helped plan the blood drive for our school this year, and this time I donated power reds.” 

A Power Red donation allows a blood donor to donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning the plasma and platelets to the donor. Red blood cells are the most frequently used blood component and are needed by almost every type of patient requiring transfusion. The red cells from a Power Red donation are typically given to anyone suffering blood loss, such as during surgery.

“Prior to my surgery, I didn’t think about giving blood. Now, I don’t take blood donation for granted,” said Melanie on how her personal experience of needing blood changed her perspective. “Now I understand why it’s necessary. I think about my surgery, and what if blood hadn’t been available?”

The American Red Cross is currently experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants, and elective surgeries rise, depleting the nation’s blood inventory. There is great hospital demand for blood as patients who previously deferred care during the COVID-19 pandemic present with more advanced disease progression, requiring increased blood transfusions.

“Everybody can afford a little bit of time out of their day to help someone else. Giving blood is such a small thing that I can do and telling other people about it – it’s the least I can do,” said Melanie I how she gives back to honor those who gave blood and helped save her life. “It’s not doing something for myself; it’s doing something for other people.” 

As many people return to pre-pandemic activities and resume travel to visit loved ones, the Red Cross asks the public to remember the needs of patients this summer. Individuals who feel healthy and well are needed today and in the days ahead, as the blood supply has fallen to critical levels. An hour of your time this summer can truly help save a life.

Schedule an appointment to donate by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). In thanks for helping meet patient needs at a challenging time of year, all who come to give through June 13 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. And all who come to donate June 14-30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Restrictions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.