By Laura McGuire, American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply of blood, leading to about a 35% drawdown of blood products in the past month. Individuals are urged to give now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care. The shortage is especially serious for types O, A negative and B negative blood.

At the heart of this shortage are patients whose survival depends on blood being available, including newborns like Paisley Galvan.

In October 2024, Paisley Galvan was born with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a serious condition caused by limited oxygen and blood flow to the brain. In her first two weeks of life, she faced unimaginable challenges—but thanks to back-to-back blood and platelet transfusions, she was given a second chance. Today, she is thriving, and her journey stands as a testament to donor generosity and unwavering hope.

“When Paisley and her twin sister Adeline were born, we never imagined how quickly our world would change,” said Isabelle Galvan, Paisley’s mother. “Paisley faced incredible challenges in her first days, and it was the generosity of blood donors that gave her the strength to keep fighting. Because of them, she got a second chance, and we got to bring both of our girls home. We will always be grateful for the gift they gave our family.”

In August 2025, Paisley’s family hosted a Red Cross blood drive to celebrate her courageous journey and encourage the community to give blood and platelets. They are planning another blood drive in March to keep raising awareness. Blood and platelet donations are lifesaving gifts that can mean everything to patients in need.

“We want to share this story not just to raise awareness for HIE but to say thank you—to the blood donors who made her recovery possible,” said Paisley’s mother.

There’s no time to wait — book an appointment to give blood and platelets now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).