For freshman Valerie Campbell, donating blood at Tuesday’s American Red Cross Blood Drive was not simply just to help out a good cause. It was to return the favor.
Campbell was born she had five blood transfusions. That is at least five pints of blood that people donated that kept her alive.
After her mother gave birth to her older brother in Spain, doctors didn’t give her a shot for being a negative blood type.
“When I was born, my mom’s red and white blood cells attacked my red and while blood cells and it drained me of blood,” Campbell said. “It saw me as an infection because I am A positive and I am A negative. They do not mix.”
As of result of her multiple transfusions, Campbell has anemia, which means she has less than the normal amount of red blood cells. That also means she does not have enough iron in her blood streams, which does make it difficult each time she donates blood.
Ultimately, Campbell was not able to give blood at Tuesday’s blood drive due to her iron level.
Campbell was one of the over fifty students who played a part in the Red Cross that took red blood cells, platelets and plasma.
Platelets go to cancer victims while plasma goes to blood victims.
According to Kelly Carlin, donor recruitment representative of the southwest region, the Red Cross is in incredible need right now because their blood supply is extremely low.
“(The blood supply) is very low to where they are taking about the hospitals possibly cancelling surgeries due this,” Carlin said.
To get more students involved, the Red Cross conducted a drawing giving away ten $100 gift cards to lucky donors.
Over the course of two days, 73 students collected 44 units of blood, which has the potential of saving up to 132 lives.
“Even though he is afraid of needles, sophomore Mark Broomfield has donated blood two times prior of this blood drive and said contributing is easy to do and anyone can participate.
“(When you donate) always come with a friend, it really helps with nerves and it gets easier as it goes along,” Broomfield said. “But the process isn’t painful at all, just a little prick.”
Donor Katerine McDaniel has donated blood more than fifeteen times.
McDaniel also believes the pricking of the finger tip is the most painful part of the giving blood experience.
“It of course feels uncofortamble but I feel good about helping others,” McDaniel said.
Sophomore Konor Swedberg has given blood four times.
Swedberg gives blood simply to “help out” a great cause.
The American Red Cross has plans on coming back to MSU in November 4th in the Student Clark Center in the Comanche Room in hopes of increasing their blood supply.
