I used to be a very regular blood donor, but last July all that changed. On July 6, 2007, I was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML for short).

I was immediately placed in the hospital for the next 23 days. Over the following four months, I spent more than 60 days in the hospital. My treatment consisted of very high doses of chemotherapy, designed to kill everything in my blood. During this time, I received over 20 blood transfusions and more than 25 platelet transfusions. Had I not received this blood, there is no doubt that I would not be here today!

During my hospital stay, one of my nurses told me that there were times when the hospital barely received enough blood for emergency situations and that the summer months were some of the worst times for the blood supply. I learned that there were times when the blood supply was so low, the hospital had to cancel elective surgeries.

Because of you and everyone that has donated blood, I am alive today and am currently cancer free. There is no guarantee that I will stay in remission, but if the cancer does return, I know that as long as you and others like you are out there, I will have a great chance of beating it once again. Thank you for donating blood and please feel free to share my story if it can help encourage more people to donate blood.

Red Cross blood donors help patients just like Arthur in cities and towns throughout New England and across the United States. Please….give blood.

Patient Stories