By Jerrica Williams

Karen, Jessica, and Kelsey didn’t just show up to the blood drive at Plaza Mariachi in Nashville, Tennessee because their middle sister Stephanie was helping host, they came with a shared purpose and a personal reason to give.

The three sisters, all of Mexican descent, donated blood together for the very first time during Hispanic Heritage Month, inspired by a deeply personal reason: their father, Jose, who had undergone life-saving open-heart surgery in 2020.

“My dad is alive and well because of blood donors. Thank goodness.” said Jessica Rea Gonzales. “He was so close to dying and we thought we wouldn’t have him anymore and thankfully we do.”

For the sisters, this wasn’t just a family milestone. It was also a cultural one.

While blood donation is vital for everyone, blood types more common in Latino communities, like O-negative and O-positive, are especially needed to help patients when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O blood is the most transfused blood type and unfortunately is most often in critical supply.

However, market research shows there is a significant lack of awareness of the actual blood donation process among Latinos.

During her blood donation, Kared Rea shared, “It’s time for us to spread the word and let people in our community know that they are needed. We can help each other.”

By donating together, the sisters hope to inspire other first-time donors in the Hispanic community to reconsider the role they can play.

“My 9-year-old daughter was with me and watched me donate with no struggle. I’m hoping that when she is of age, she will say ‘my mom did it, why can’t I?’, Jessica shared.

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, the sisters encourage others to take that first step.

The American Red Cross honors Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the vital contributions of Latino blood donors and working to build greater awareness in Hispanic communities about the importance of giving blood.

To learn more about what to expect during a blood donation appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.