community

the

www.ribc.org / #ribloodcenter
lifeline
Date • Volume #
Summer 2018

Meet
Someone
Else
Yes, that’s his name. He represents the thousands of
people who—like you—take on the responsibility of
supplying blood to the state of Rhode Island. And he
needs help from all the people who aren’t donating
yet. So invite a friend to donate blood, and keep
helping us help Someone Else.
Pure joy on the faces of Jude Amoako, 21, a URI student from Cranston, RI, mom Felicity and sister Janelle as they meet some of the
actual people who donated the blood Jude needed to save his life (more about Jude inside).

Meet Someone Else Who Saved Your Life

F
or the first time in Rhode
Island Blood Center’s 40-year
history, local blood donors met
some of the actual patients their
blood and platelets helped save.
The setting, a beautiful May evening at
Skyline at Waterplace in Providence.
The mood, nothing short of magical.
Imagine receiving blood most of
your life and wondering, during each
transfusion that can take hours to
receive, who it is that gave a little
of their time so you could have a
lifetime. Then, you finally get the
chance to come face-to-face with and
personally thank your heroes. That
was a moment three blood recipients
– Jude, 21, from Cranston; Isabelle, 10,
from Cumberland; and Joni, 13, from
Falmouth, all suffering from potentially
life-threatening forms of anemia –
could only hope for until now.
Kelly Guay, Joni’s mom, said, “When
The Community Lifeline is a publication of the Rhode Island Blood Center
the blood center reached out to see
if we wanted to meet some of Joni’s
real donors, I couldn’t believe that
was even possible. I’d heard of it
happening with people who received
a marrow transplant from one person,
but not blood and platelet donations
from many different people. It’s also
hard to impress a teenager, but Joni’s
first words were, ‘this is so cool!’’’
With the recipients’ approval, the
blood center reached out to each
of the donors to see if they were
interested. Kara LeBlanc, marketing
communications manager at RIBC,
said, “The process was anonymous
both ways, so the meeting could
only take place if both parties –
donor and recipient – wanted to
meet.” The response from most
of the blood donors contacted
was a resounding, “Yes!”
Air National Guardsman, Chris
Coleman of Coventry, who has given
over 97 platelet donations at RIBC’s
Warwick Donor Center, was one of
the first to respond. He said, “I’ve
given so many donations that I start
to wonder who it is going to, and
if the same person is receiving it.”
Now he knows. Joni received not
one but two of Chris’s donations.
At the end of the night three
grateful people and their families
were able to thank more than 30
donors whose actions were directly
responsible for saving their lives.
Special thanks to Skyline at
Waterplace and Cat Country 98.1
for covering the cost of the event
for RIBC, a non-profit blood center.
Many local organizations also donated
items for a silent auction, which raised
$1,500 to help the blood center hold
more events where patients can
meet their heroes in the future.
Once You See Their Faces
Reading stories of people who need blood is motivating.
Shaking their hand, seeing their smiling faces, and hearing
their voices in person can be transforming, especially
when it’s someone who received your actual donation.
Jennifer George, a platelet donor who has given over
186 donations, says, “Meeting someone who had
received my donation was incredible. To see what a life
changing experience I was creating for another person
was truly a humbling and rewarding experience.”
Blood Sisters
Barbara Morse Silva of NBC 10 hugs Joni. Inspired
by doing a news story about Joni’s need for weekly
platelet transfusions, Barbara gave her first apheresis
platelet donation last year. Days after, Joni received
Barbara’s platelets at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Now
Barbara donates platelets every three weeks on her
day off! Little Rhody may be a small state, but it has a
big heart! Learn about platelets at ribc.org/platelets.
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Facing Your Hero
Jude is a double major at the University of Rhode
Island and just completed the 2018 College Leadership
Rhode Island Program. Warren Boothman is a double
red cell donor at our South County Donor Center and
has given over 162 units of blood, one of which was
received by Jude. Finally meeting one of his heroes,
Jude got to personally share how every single donation
he receives continues to shape his life now. Watch
Jude tell his story at youtube.com/ribloodcenter.
Moved to The Mic
Isabelle has needed blood since she was born. Though
she can be shy and soft-spoken, after meeting some of the
people she received blood from, she was moved to stand
up in front of over 100 people and express her thanks.
Isabelle, who wants to be a doctor when she grows up,
said, “I still have so much I want to do, and you are helping
me do that by giving me blood.” In late summer, she will
receive a bone marrow transplant that can cure her of ever
needing another transfusion again. We will share updates
on her progress at facebook.com/rhodeislandbloodcenter.

"Meeting someone who had received my donation
was incredible. To see what a life changing experience
I was creating for another person was truly a
humbling and rewarding experience."
~ Jenn George, platelet donor
New 2018 Rewards:
The Rhode Island Blood Center
has some new items in the 2018
Donor Rewards Program! From a
superhero themed t-shirt, to water
bottles and gift cards to Gregg’s,
Chelo’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, there
is something for every dedicated
donor, whether you give once every
season or every time you’re eligible.
Nicole Pineault, director of donor
resources says, “Summer is a very
challenging time when blood centers
struggle to prevent shortages.
We’re competing with summer
vacations, beach days, and schools
being out of session. If you haven’t
donated in a while, please consider
coming back during one of the most
critical times of year.” Patients need
blood no matter what the weather.
A little of your time can mean a
lifetime for someone else in need.
Your year-to-date total credits
as of 6/19/18 can be found in
the address section on the
back of this newsletter.
Visit ribc.org/rewards to see all
of the items and other current
donor center promotions!
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For more news and inspiring

Inside: stories, visit ribc.org/news
Rhode Island
blood donors meet
Your Blood Is On Its the real
Way! people they
the program, the next time you donate just make sure you
helped save for the
Imagine glancing down at your cell phone and seeing
list a textable phone number in the "cell phone" field on
first
a text that your blood is literally on its way time
to help ever! the donor health registration record.
a patient.
No matter what kind of day you're having, Jill that feels great!
Stockman never leaves it
From time to time, donors will receive a up texttowhen“Someone
their Else” to give
donation has been sent out from the Rhode blood. She’s
Island given over 130
Blood
Center's Hospital Services department. "We donations
want toand could use a little
provide
donors with a simple reminder of how much help itfrom you
really this summer to
matters
when they’ve taken the time to give. Letting make yousure
knowthewhen
life-saving blood
supply stays
your donation is actually on its way to help someone is a strong! Jill met
perfect way to do that," says Kara LeBlanc, communications received
Joni, a young girl who
two of Jill’s platelet donations.
manager. It reminds people of the feelings they had when
Now, Jill not only gives platelets,
they made the donation -- saving lives, enjoying some juice
but also volunteers for the
and cookies, and proudly wearing the redblood arm bandage of has forged
center and
honor after being a hero to someone else.a wonderful friendship with
TheT-shirt
feedbackAlert!
so far Donating
is exciting. While noJoni
replyand is necessary,
her family. She says,
donors often do text back saying, "Thank“Meetingyou. ThatJoni made
was a wonderful
myBlood
day," orIs My Super
"Awesome Power
feeling!" If you'd and
like humbling
to be part experience.
of
and other new rewards Her family has such a positive
attitude and a staunchly
store items inside. unsinkable spirit! I amhours,
honoredvisit ribc.org or call 401-453-8383.
For center and mobile drive locations and
my platelets allow her to lead a
normal teenage life.”
4