Kathy has a positive attitude…just like her blood type. During the 1990s she started giving blood and platelets in Jacksonville to help others. She became a multi-gallon donor and participated in annual breast cancer fundraising walks. After years of paying it forward, Kathy found herself on the receiving end of blood donations.

In 2013, Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery to have the cancer removed. Her doctors ordered a post-surgery treatment regimen of chemotherapy followed by 12 weeks of radiation therapy. Due to the effects of the treatments, Kathy required multiple transfusions of platelets to prevent bleeding in her tissues. 

After recovery, Kathy was disappointed when she was told she we would have to wait a year before she could donate blood again. As soon as she became eligible, she once again shared her power to save lives. She continues to donate regularly, giving second chances, just like the one she received, to other patients.