Make an appointment to donate blood on July 1st, 2nd or 5th and you'll receive a $10 gas card

As I sit with my family on the 4^th of July and the fireworks are lighting up the sky, I am thankful that my family is healthy and able to be with me. I know I’m one of the lucky ones.

In the nearly three years that I have worked at South Bend Medical Foundation, I have met many donors who all have different reasons for donating blood. Some are survivors of cancer, some have lost family members who have needed transfusions, and others are giving back because they are thankful their loved one survived a surgery or accident.

As I stated in a previous blog, summer is a hard time for the Foundation to keep our blood supply at above minimum levels. It’s a time when many of our donors are on vacation and local colleges and universities are on break.

We have to create promotions we think will appeal to donors and entice them to take time of their busy days and come in and donate. We also hope the promotion will be just enough to persuade a brand new donor to overcome their fears of the unknown and get stuck for the first time.

Not only will blood donors who donate this summer be entered to win a 2012 Ford Focus, but if you make an appointment for July 1^st, 2^nd or 5^th, you will automatically be given a $10 gas card when you donate a unit of blood. Appointments can be made by calling 574.234.1157 or online at www.GiveBloodNow.com.

Support RoofSit by donating blood on Thursday

It seems almost unimaginable that someone would lay a hand on a child, yet it happens every day.

On Thursday, June 23rd, South Bend Medical Foundation will support U93’s efforts to prevent childabuse and bring awareness to the community by donating $5 for each unit of blood donated.

"As a not-for-profit organization, we realize how important it is to appeal to the community for support.  We feel that U93’s Roofsit is a great cause.

The summer months are a particularly hard time for the Foundation to attract blood donors, and we are hoping this partnership assists us with our blood supply while providing funds to prevent child abuse," said Kay Clark-Cox, Manager of Blood Donor Recruitment.

Anyone wishing to make an appointment to give blood at the blood drive during the Roofsit event at Martin’s Super Market, 2081 South Bend Avenue in South Bend on Thursday, June 23rd between 11am and 4pm may do so by visiting http://bit.ly/ROOFSIT.

Anyone who donates blood before August 26th or donates at the RoofSit blood drive will be eligible to win the 2012 Ford Focus.

Helping Pets, Helping People

Did you know that human beings are not the only ones who can donate blood?  While humans need blood for surgeries and traumas, dogs need blood for the same reasons.

On Saturday, June 18^th, South Bend Medical Foundation will partner with Morris Animal Hospital to host a blood drive with the theme of “Helping Pets, Helping People,” from 10:30am until 3:00pm.

According to Dr. Amanda Cunningham, their hospital has collected a unit each month for several years which they keep on hand for traumas or routine surgeries. Dogs also might need blood if they have autoimmune diseases or if they digest rat poisoning which will cause bleeding.

The process for dogs to give blood is very similar to that of human donations.  First, the dog is screened to be sure that they are a healthy donor. This is done through testing which includes a complete blood count (CBC), a urinalysis, and the animal must be on heartworm, flea and tick prevention medication. In addition, the dog will be tested for dog erythrocyte antigens (DEA).  If the dog is 1.1 negative or positive, the animal is able to be a donor. Also, the donor must be at least 50 pounds, age 6 or younger and in good general health.

Just as our canine friends have minimum requirements they must meet to be eligible donors, humans have them as well. For example, while dogs must be a minimum 50lbs, humans must be a minimum of 110lbs. Also, human donors need to be screened to determine which of the eight blood types they are, dogs have up to 12 types of blood.

In a human donation, the donor gives a unit of blood which is 500mL of whole blood using a vein in the arm. Dogs give 450mL out of the jugular vein and medication is sometimes used to relax the four legged friend.  And finally, while human blood has a shelf life of 42 days, canine blood is good for about 25 days.

Although the Morris Animal Hospital has enough doggie donors signed up to give blood on Saturday, you can contact your local veterinary if you are interested in having your dog screened to be an eligible donor. If you are interested in seeing the process of how dogs donate blood or would like to donate blood yourself at the Morris Animal Hospital on Saturday, contact 271-1909 or sign up online at http://bit.ly/MorrisBloodDrive

Focus on Saving Lives and Win a Car!!!

For those of you who live in Michiana, you’ve probably heard Jordan Automotive’s tag line, “The Jordan Way.” They boast “Easy, Stress-Free & One Low Price.”

Well, this summer the low price can’t get any lower because South Bend Medical Foundation (SBMF) and Jordan Automotive have teamed up to offer our blood donors a brand new 2012 Ford Focus. It really doesn’t get much more stress-free and easier than that!

Today, WNDU helped pass along the word to their viewers that blood donors will be eligible to win the vehicle, or a $10,000 cash option, when they donate blood before August 26^th. SBMF will draw 50 names and those 50 will be on hand at Jordan Automotive on August 31st to see if they are winners of the Focus.

Although we run many promotions at South Bend Medical Foundation, this ranks as the largest! Help us kick off our summer promotion by donating blood at Jordan Automotive Group, 609 East Jefferson on Wednesday, June 8^th from 3pm -6pm. There’ll be food, Sunny 101.5, South Bend Medical Foundation’s bloodmobile and several chances for donors to win extra chances in the drawing for the Focus.

Help us FOCUS ON SAVING LIVES! To learn more about blood donations, to schedule an appointment or to view complete rules of the promotion, visit http://www.givebloodnow.com/

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.