by
Loren Hamel, MD - President & CEO, Lakeland Health |
Jan 17, 2017
The pain was excruciating. My brother-in-law, Lewis, lay in a crumpled heap, on the ground—he was going into shock. His gray roan horse, Smoke, was galloping back to her stable.
The 1,400 pound horse had been spooked, landing backwards on top of her rider. Lewis had suffered fractures on 10 ribs, two vertebra, and throughout his pelvis.
Miraculously, Lewis was able to drag himself to where his phone lay hidden under leaves and brush.
By the time he arrived at the hospital, Lewis had lost half his blood volume into his pelvis. A team of specialists treated his various injuries and administered a blood transfusion that saved his life.
January is National Blood Donor Month, and for good reason. One unit of blood can be helpful in saving three lives.
In 2016, Michigan Blood collected 3,503 units of blood in Berrien County resulting in a potential of 10,509 lives saved. Lakeland Health contributed 325 units of blood through drives at various locations, resulting in a potential of 975 lives saved.
That sounds like a lot of blood, but there is always a need for more. In 2016, Lakeland Health transfused 4,500 units of red blood cells to our patients. In addition, we transfused 1,000 units of plasma, 850 units of platelets, and 300 units of cryoprecipitate—all derived from donated blood.
There is no known substitute for human blood. And many of us will need blood, or a blood product, at some point during our lifetime. On average, one out of seven hospitalized individuals requires a transfusion of blood or blood products during their stay.
Sadly, only around four percent of us are blood donors while more than 37 percent of the population is medically capable of donating blood. That stands in rather stark contrast to the more than 50 percent of Michigan residents who are registered organ donors.
You don’t need to wait until you pass away to help save the lives of our friends, neighbors, and family members.
Lewis is gradually recovering from his injury. He and Rhonda spent the holidays with us. He’s walking more each day and regaining his strength. He and his entire family owe a debt of gratitude to those dear souls that generously donated their blood.
If you haven’t already, this would be a great time to become a blood donor. Check our community calendar and sign up for a blood drive nearest you.
