Lexington, South Carolina
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Carrie
June 28, 2018, my life forever changed when I gave birth to my twin girls, Katie and Emily. They were born at 35 weeks, 4 days. They both needed NICU stays, and I was released on July 1, 2018, to recover at home from my C-section. Katie came home with me that day, and Emily needed to stay behind.
Three days later, I was readmitted on July 5, 2018. I had a hematoma and my belly was turning black and purple and was getting progressively worse. Hemoglobin was checked, and it was a 5.
I had never had a blood transfusion before, and I needed 2 units of blood to save my life. So I got that blood transfusion the next day on July 6, 2018. Within no time I felt a million times better. I was released from the hospital with my other daughter Emily on July 8, 2018.
Fast forward almost 2 years later to June 6, 2020, I donated blood for the first time in my life at 33 years old. My personal goal is to give back the 2 units I needed to save my life to save somebody else's too. I have never been able to donate prior to this, as my hemoglobin is always too low.
However, it wasn't that day. My hematologist told me I can only donate once a year. So very soon I'd like to donate my 2nd pint to save another life. Please donate and save a life! It is the most gratifying feeling knowing you're making a difference just by donating your blood.