by Mariwyn Evans

Blood equals life. It nourishes the body both literally and spiritually. So, imagine what it feels like when your blood turns against you. When it threatens your life instead of restoring it.

That’s what Ralph Campbell of Lebanon, Tennessee experienced 14 years ago when he was first diagnosed with hemolytic anemia. This blood disorder damages and destroys your red blood cells more rapidly than your body can produce new ones. The deficit causes fatigue, shortness of breath and eventually heart and liver damage.

“Because of their shape, my red blood cells last only about 60 days, compared to 120 days for an average person,” Campbell explains. That has made blood transfusions part of his monthly routine for years.

But with the support of Vanderbilt Medical Center and the American Red Cross of Tennessee, Campbell can receive transfusions when needed and still carry out his work as an event manager for the Music City Center convention space in Nashville. In this role, he creates show plans and oversees the event’s execution. “It’s very rewarding to take something from a written plan and bring it to life for our clients,” he says. He’s also proud of how the Center’s success has contributed so much to the growth of Nashville’s skyline and visibility.

Campbell has held his current post since he returned to Tennessee in 2013 with his wife, Jackie, and son.  After years of living in Florida, he wanted to be near his aging parents and “let my son grow up with Tennessee values,” he explains.

The top-quality medical care available in Nashville was also critical, as Campbell’s condition progressed. By early 2024, he needed a liver transplant. “I thought I’d have to wait a year or two after being placed on the donor list, but because I have a rare AB blood type, I had a match in just a few days. I got a call driving home from work one day and the next day I was in surgery,” Campbell recounts.

Again, blood transfusions were critical. “I needed six or seven pints of blood for the surgery, and the Red Cross really scrambled and made it possible,” he recalls. “The machinery and the technology were amazing.”

He continues to receive blood regularly to combat the anemia caused by the auto-immune drugs for the transplant.

As Campbell recovered last fall, the Music Center staff showed its support by hosting a blood drive in his honor. The drive collected 25 pints, including one from a visiting tourist who walked in and donated.  “I’m here in part because they were there,” Campbell says.

“As I said to my co-workers that day, ‘By giving blood, you are giving me or someone like me a chance to live better and longer. That is a huge thing to do,” he concluded.

If you are interested in donating blood, you can learn more and find a drive near you by visiting RedCrossBlood.org.