This is the story of my daughter, Winter. In October of 2007, she was born three weeks early and weighed in at 3 pounds and 10 ounces. Other than being small, she seemed perfectly healthy. However, three days later, as we were waiting for our release papers to be signed, she stopped breathing.

Winter was air lifted to the hospital where we were given the diagnosis. She was suffering from neonatal septicemia, which was causing her organs to simultaneously shut down. The doctors gave her a 10% chance of survival as she underwent several transfusions to flush out the infected blood.

Today, Winter is a happy, healthy 10-year-old girl and I am eternally grateful to all the blood donors who helped save her life. Without you, my baby girl would not be alive. I am now a regular blood donor myself. Hopefully the parents of other sick children can receive the same gift that was once given to me, the gift of life.