Posts Tagged ‘donate’
Give one more gift this season…
Wednesday, December 19th, 2012There’s still time to donate…
Monday, July 23rd, 2012Find a Community Blood Drive near you!
Food and give-a-ways to all donors. You can be entered to win a suite night for 10 people at a Buffalo Sabres game for the 2012-2013 season. Limo, food and drink included!
Why should African Americans Donate Blood?
Monday, February 13th, 2012- By donating blood through Unyts, you will be helping your family, friends and neighbors right here in Western New York.
- Donated blood is the only source for those who need it. Despite amazing discoveries and breakthroughs in medical research, there is no substitute for the contents and functions human blood provides.
- Odds are 1 in 3 that you will need blood during your lifetime but only 1 in 33 that you are a regular blood donor.
- Increasing African-American donations is vital because blood types O and B, the blood types of about 70 percent of African-Americans, are also the blood types most in demand.
- Genetically-similar blood is preferred for those who need repeated blood transfusions, and for conditions like sickle cell disease (SCD), which primarily affects African-Americans. Blood that closely matches a patient’s is less likely to be rejected by the patient and can mean fewer complications after a transfusion.
Justin’s Story (Video)
When Justin was a baby he would scream, cry and hold out his hand whenever he was suffering from pain related to sickle cell disease (SCD). Doctors diagnosed him with the incurable disease when he was just a year old. Justin needs fresh red blood cells from matching donors to replace his sickle shaped cells.
Justin is 14 years old now and despite the disease he can enjoy typical teenage activities such as listening to music and playing football. He keeps his SCD under control with folic acid, vitamins and by staying hydrated, but he always knows when he’s about to experience pain. He says it’s almost unbearable, but he usually feels better while being transfused with blood from donors. Justin’s mother and sister also have the sickle cell trait, but so far they have not experienced a crisis. Justin must cope with SCD the rest of his life. With no cure in sight he knows more blood transfusions are likely in his future.
Ciera’s Story (Video)
Like many sixth graders, Ciera Nesmith loves cheerleading, spending time with friends and creating new outfits. But, unlike most girls her age, Ciera spent almost half of her life in the hospital. Ciera suffers from sickle cell anemia which means her red blood cells are sickle or crescent shaped.
As with any blood transfusion the patient and donor have to be a match. In Ciera’s case, it’s easier to find a match for her in the African American community because people from the same ethnic background are more like to have blood that contain similar factors and antigens. Ciera will live with sickle cell anemia the rest of her life. There is no cure for the disease and blood transfusions are a necessity in order for her to stay alive.
Terrell’s Story (Video)
Terrell Wilson said his 21st birthday was the best birthday he ever had. He posed for pictures with the Orlando Magic cheerleaders, danced with Bo Outlaw and even talked to Dwight Howard on the phone, but this once in a life time birthday party would be his last.
Doctors diagnosed Terrell with leukemia after he developed a cold and flu-like symptoms he just couldn’t shake. He relied on blood and platelets to get through chemotherapy treatment, but what Terrell really needed was a bone marrow match. He spent weeks on end in the hospital waiting on a match that never came through.
Florida’s Blood Centers Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Dr. Tisha Foster says, “In order to find the right match that the transplant can be successful they’re most likely to find a match within their own ethnicity, so it’s really important that we have a variety of ethnicities on the bone marrow registry in which to choose from for these patients.”
Terrell passed away on Christmas Day 2009, but his legacy lives on as his story continues to inspire people to donate blood and join the National Bone Marrow Registry.
Thank you to Florida’s Blood Centers for sharing these stories.
*Sources consulted for the statements made in this document include America’s Blood Centers, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Transfusion: the Journal of the American Association of Blood Banks, and Transfusion Medicine: Official Journal of the British Blood Transfusion Society.
20 Million in 2012 Campaign
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012Unyts is proud to support Donate Life America and their 20 Million in 2012 Campaign.
New York State Donate Life Registry
Meet Jenn, our Summer Intern!
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
Hi I’m Jenn and I am interning this summer at UNYTS. I have been involved with UNYTS since high school, where I participated in the “Donate Life” Club. The UNYTS mission is noble and key to our community. Last week I had the opportunity to meet Amelia at a blood drive that she hosted at DeGraff Hospital. Amelia is 7 years old and previously had 3 holes in her heart. She had to go to larger cities, such as Boston, to undergo three open heart surgeries and received a number of blood transfusions. Now Amelia and her family have become advocates for the blood donation process and understand how vital it is to our community.
There are so many misconceptions about blood and organ donation. Here’s a popular one:
If I am on the organ donor list doctors won’t try to save me…. FALSE! How extremely unethical that practice would be. Doctors and Nurses take oaths when they began to practice an
d that includes equally trying to save everyone.
But here is my favorite fact about UNYTS,
When you give blood you can help save up to 3 lives in Western New York! UNYTS keeps all their donations inside the Western New York community. A 45 minute process can contribute to saving three of your fellow neighbors… plus free food.
UNYTS is also here to educate the community on what is true on blood and organ donation and eliminate misconceptions. I will be posting throughout the summer so check back to see what UNYTS has going on!
Donor Day Program
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011UNYTS would like to welcome Western Division Federal Credit Union to the list of local companies participating in our Donor Day Program at Eastern Hills Neighborhood Blood Donation Center. They are giving back to the community, allowing their employees to donate blood and spreading the Donate Life message. As a special incentive they have donated $50.00 gas cards to be raffled off on the weekends listed below when you present to donate blood at Eastern Hills Mall, 4545 Transit Road in Williamsville. Thank you Western Division FCU!
May 13-14
June 10-12
July 8-9
Aug 12-13
Sept. 9-10
Oct 14-15
Nov 11-12
Dec 9-10