Memorial Day signals decrease in summer donations at the Foundation

Memorial Day for many people means a three day weekend, cookouts with family members, and the beginning of warm, sunny days to come.

Unfortunately, at the South Bend Medical Foundation, it signals a time when we need to ramp up donations because the need for blood increases while the supply of blood decreases. Donors are outside enjoying the longer days or on vacation causing our inventory between Memorial Day and Labor Day to become scarce.  During this time, there is usually an increase in the need of blood because people are more active and more accidents, heart attacks and surgeries occur.

If you have never donated blood, here is a summary of the process.  South Bend Medical Foundation offers three types with the most common type, whole blood, described below. This is the type that is most common at blood drives and for first time donors. The donor registers and is given a sheet with medical questions to fill out. This “donor history form” is used to screen patients based on lifestyle choices. 

Following the confidential screening process, donors are then given a mini physical which includes blood pressure, pulse, hematocrit and temperature.  Once the donor is done screening, it’s time to donate!

A phlebotomist will scrub the area of your arm and will determine which vein will work the best for drawing. After a little preparation time, it will only take between about 4 and 7 minutes for most donors to give a pint of blood. Your arm will be wrapped and now it’s time for juice and cookies.

We ask that donors stay in the post donation area for about 10 minutes to be sure you are feeling alright. It’s as simple as that! With that 45-60 minute time frame, you have potentially saved three lives.

Make an appointment to donate blood at South Bend Medical Foundation 574.234.1157 or online at www.givebloodnow.com

Have you ever considered donating blood?

The decision to give blood is not an easy one for some. Many people say they won’t donate because they have a fear of needles, others say that no one ever asked them. There are several myths and fears which deter people from walking into the donor center.

I donated blood for the first time at Indiana University in my dorm.  The Red Cross had set up a mobile blood drive on the first floor of my residence hall and I was passing through after class and was asked to donate. At the time, I had just been elected the Read-Landes Governess and thought I should set a good example and donate.

I had no idea what I was about to get myself into. Just kidding! I know that many people have a fear of needles and honestly, I’m not particularly fond of them myself. I just look away! I don’t remember the actual donation experience, so it must have been a positive one. I’ve been a blood donor since then and just donated for the 52^nd time this morning.

Everyone has their own personal reasons for donating. I wish more people would consider it. Did you know that there isn’t a substitute for human blood? If there weren’t volunteer donors, and there were patients in need of blood, they would die. It truly is a matter of life and death.

In a posting the other day on facebook, we asked our fans and friends to write about the first time they donated blood. Many of the people who answered the question started donating blood because they had a loved one who was in need or who just received blood and they wanted to give back to the community.

Jo Kennedy Faulstich promised to give back after her dad had prostate surgery and required three transfusions. She is now working toward her 5^th gallon of donations. Congratulations!

Tricia Sloma was raised knowing how important it is to donate blood when she witnessed her grandmother volunteering to donate blood at the local blood bank. I’m sure she would be proud of your commitment to saving the lives of others.

Trudy Herron was always curious about donating blood and one day was asked by a friend if she would like to tag along and give blood. It was the encouragement of her friend that led her to become a donor. Way to go!

And finally, Ladonna Minarik wrote about how her grandfather had died of leukemia.  Many cancer patients receive blood transfusions and platelets during their treatment.  Platelets help patients with clotting and are valuable in the treatment process.

If you’ve never been asked to donate blood or never thought it was important, I hope you will consider how your generosity will help others.  If you have questions about donating or would like to talk about the process please give me a call – Colleen 574.234.1157 or talk with one of our phlebotomists, they’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have.

He defied the odds... Ray Wolfenbarger 10 years later...

On December 16, 2011, Sergeant Ray Wolfenbarger will record another milestone in his life. A life that ten years ago, was almost taken away when he was shot three times while on duty with the South Bend Police Department.

During his midnight patrol on the southwest side of South Bend, Wolfenbarger began following a car without headlights. Following a short chase, the car driven by 19-year-old Christopher Hogan crashed. Wolfenbarger approached the vehicle and was shot by Hogan.  Although he was wearing a bullet proof vest, the bullets entered his shoulder and abdomen, causing extensive bleeding.

Paramedics responded to the scene and gave him a mere 5% chance of survival.  But Ray didn’t see it that way.

Instead, the 27-year-old, four year police veteran, knew that he would have to fight to survive so he could continue to take care of his wife Amy and their 2-year-old daughter, Bailee.

He battled against the odds of survival, despite the fact that he literally bled out over four times. The average human adult male has between 10 and 12 units of blood and Ray received 47 units during his nine surgeries and recovery.

It was a long road to where he is today, after all, doctors didn’t think he would make it in the beginning.  He defied the odds. They didn’t think he’d walk and he defied the odds, as well.

Had it not been for donors at South Bend Medical Foundation who had volunteered to give blood, Bailee might not have her father with her today. It is because of the selfless acts of those donors, who gave blood not knowing that a police officer would be shot that weekend, that enough blood was on hand to save Ray’s life.

Ray knows the importance of donating blood because it saved his own life.  He’s been a faithful donor since he was medically cleared and helps each year with the Fallen Officer Blood Drive honoring officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

For the first time in many years, Ray will be unable to donate. Although he tries to repay the community by giving back the 36 units he used, doctors recently found a blood clot in his system and advised him to take blood thinners which defer him from donating.

On June 15^th, the South Bend Police Department will open its doors to the public and encourage the community the donate blood in honor of the Fallen Officers.  This event is important to Ray and his family and the families of the men who have lost their loved ones so that we can have protection.

Ray’s goal for the event is to get 125 units during the Fallen Officer Blood Drives. Help show your support by making an appointment at http://bit.ly/SBFallenOfficers or contact Barb at 574.235.9311. 

South Bend Medical Foundation will also host a blood drive in honor of the Mishawaka Fallen Officers on June 16^th from 11am until 4pm at the Police Department on Church Street. If you would like to donate please contact Chris Daggy at 574.258.1683 or visit http://bit.ly/MishFallenOfficers or email cdaggy@mishawakacity.com.

An introduction to South Bend Medical Foundation's blog

Have you ever had a lab test and wondered what the lingo on the requisition meant?  Or have you donated blood and wanted to learn more about how blood donor services works? Or perhaps you have a lab question you would like answered, but are too shy or embarrassed to ask.

Beginning this week, I will be blogging on a bi-weekly basis about South Bend Medical Foundation.  Topics of my blogs will be geared toward blood donors and lab patients, as well as members of the general public who are interested in learning more about being healthy or more about the Foundation as a whole.

I’ve been employed at South Bend Medical Foundation in the Public Relations department for over two years.  Like many of you, I have a lot of questions as both a blood donor and occasional lab patient. Although I work at SBMF now, my background isn’t in a medical field, so each day I learn something new.

I hope this blog will be very interactive and that readers will feel comfortable enough to comment and to bring forth questions you’d like answered.  Stay tuned and please feel free to submit questions to chahn@sbmf.org with the subject line confidential blog if you have questions you would like addressed without including your name.