Katie West-Ingold
In May of 1984 I was living in San Diego, California. I was married with one child. One evening when my husband was working, I began having severe abdominal pain. After talking with my mother-in-law and some neighbors, we called for emergency help. An ambulance took me to Kaiser Hospital, where an obstetrician who was on duty recognized that I was bleeding internally from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
I had emergency surgery and received five units of blood. The doctor told my family I would likely have died within a half hour if I had not received this lifesaving transfusion. I am so thankful an adequate supply of blood was available to save my life!
I am not able to donate blood, but I am proud to help the Red Cross recruit donors. My oldest daughter is now 24, and she donates blood.