By Betsy Morse, American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region

John Heath will never forget his son Ian’s birth in 1999, but not for the typical reasons. The Red Cross of Greater Salt Lake Area board member recalls, “I was in my second year of law school in western Ohio, and he wasn’t due for 10 weeks. But my wife went into labor early.” And little Ian needed a blood transfusion.

It is not uncommon for premature babies to need blood transfusions soon after birth, but it is critical. “Our baby received a unit of O+ blood from a Red Cross donor,” says Heath. Two months later, Ian was released from the hospital, and his father credits the timely blood transfusion for his son having a relatively healthy childhood, despite being born prematurely. But the story doesn’t end there.

“At the age of seven, Ian had a basic tonsillectomy,” says Heath. “The surgery went well, and Ian returned home.” But later, when his parents left him in the care of older siblings to run a short errand, they received a call they will never forget: Ian was bleeding. The Heaths returned home immediately to find blood literally streaming from the child’s mouth – the tonsillectomy had caused arterial bleeding.

Ian was rushed to the hospital and required immediate surgery. “He lost two units of blood,” John recalls, “and again, Red Cross blood donors came to the rescue.”

Fast forward nearly 15 years and Ian works fulltime with the Utah National Guard as a paratrooper and helps manage the dining room. With first-hand knowledge of the importance of blood donations, Ian and his mother are both regular blood donors. Unfortunately, due to an infection picked up overseas, John can’t donate blood, making him even more grateful for those who can and do. 

“Without Red Cross blood donations,” he stresses, “Ian would not have been here to accomplish all that he has in his life.”

Make an Appointment to Donate Blood:

In the days and weeks ahead, it’s critically important the Red Cross maintains a readily available blood supply so hospital patients can receive the care they need. To make an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.