Elise Punke
Blood donation has always been important to me. I've been a donor, a blood drive chairperson for a number of years, and, as an RN, I've administered life-giving transfusions to many, many patients, but this past April, donation became even more of a passion for me.
My daughter, Elise, was born with a life-threatening heart defect that she almost didn't survive. Because of the severity of her illness, her kidneys and liver failed. As a result of her liver failure, her blood clotting was compromised greatly. She was bleeding to death. Without the 22 transfusions she received of both clotting factors and whole blood, she would never have survived her eight-hour heart surgery. She had the best doctors, nurses, technology and equipment available to her, but without the people who donated the blood that she received, all the resources in the world wouldn't have saved her.
I often think of the commercial that's playing right now (with a little twist). Doctor bills…$120,000, hospital bills…$175,000, lifesaving blood…PRICELESS!
Today, Elise is a healthy, happy 9 month old. Doctors tell us that she will live a completely normal life with a completely repaired heart. Thank you for all of the donors who help people like Elise, who so desperately need a second chance at life.
Terri Punke