Patient Stories

The San Diego Blood Bank must collect 400 pints of blood every day in order to meet the needs of area hospital patients who are battling life-threatening blood disorders like aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia and leukemia, as well as those who need blood during trauma situations.

Their stories are very real and their need for blood is ongoing. Please take the time to read about a few of our patients whose lives have been directly affected by our blood donors.

Blood Donations Help Patients Like...

	San Diego Blood Bank donors have helped patients like San Clemente resident Katherine Margiotta, who has severe aplastic anemia and is being treated at Rady Children's Hospital. Katherine has already received several blood and platelet transfusions and will need more in the future. By donating as often as possible, you can help ensure that blood is available for patients like Katherine when they need it. Her life depends on it!
	Spring Valley resident Deziree was diagnosed with Leukemia at only 6-months-old. She has received blood transfusions as part of her treatment and has responded well to chemotherapy. Deziree's parents are grateful for the blood donors that have taken the time to help their daughter.
	For the past several years Border Health Assistant Juan Olmeda has organized the County of San Diego's month-long series of blood drives. He worked with 20-plus County blood drive chair people to recruit more than 600 donations each year. Recently Juan was diagnosed with leukemia and he himself has needed a large amount of blood. Juan has now had a bone marrow transplant. Because Juan is Latino, his best resource for his blood type, O+, was from other Latinos. Most people of Latino origin have Type O blood.
	Your blood donation helps patients like Colt McCoy, who was born on October 5, 2007, at 24 weeks gestation. He received blood transfusions due to complications associated with his premature birth. He is now a healthy little boy, thanks to the generosity of blood donors like you.
	City of Poway employee Laurrie Stacconi, has been battling portal vein thrombosis for over 10 years. Laurrie has received numerous blood, plasma and platelet transfusions to treat her condition and will most likely require more transfusions in the future. By donating today, you can help ensure that blood is available when patients like Laurrie need it.
	Wilson Santagata was 2 1/2 years-old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in December, 2005. He is currently in remission, thanks to the generous donations of blood donors. .
	Aidan Good was diagnosed with a fatal heart defect when he was 3 years old. He recently received a heart transplant and required multiple blood transfusions during surgery. Today Aidan is a normal, active child, thanks to the generosity of blood donors.
	Temecula residents, Chance and Cadence, both suffer from congenital heart defects. The brother and sister pair has received numerous pints of blood thus far, and will be undergoing additional surgeries at Rady Children\'s Hospital in the future. You can make sure that blood is available for Chance and Cadence by donating today.
	After being diagnosed with leukemia, Mercedes Soto required regular blood transfusions to keep her healthy. Had it not been for blood donors, Mercedes may not have had the chance to undergo a successful bone marrow transplant. Donate today to help ensure that blood is available for patients like Mercedes.
	Thanks to the generosity of our blood donors, Rancho San Diego resident Isaac Garmo received life sustaining blood transfusions as part of his treatment for neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, before undergoing a successful bone marrow transplant.
	In 2006 Escondido resident Paige Brusso was diagnosed with a neurological disorder characterized by progressive and debilitating weakness in the arms and legs. The illness confined Paige to a wheelchair, preventing her from enjoying some of her favorite martial arts and dance activities. As part of her recovery she used two units of plasma a week, a treatment that helped alleviate her condition. Now Paige is healthy and able to walk again!
	Poway resident, Vince Reilly was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that requires blood transfusions as part of his treatment. With your  donations you can help ensure that blood is available when Vince and patients like him need it.
	Your blood donation can help patients like Spring Valley resident Tiana, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in 2007. Tiana has used several pints of blood and platelets as part of her treatment. She is now in remission, thanks to volunteer blood donors like you.
	Oceanside resident Bree Long was diagnosed with pancreatitis in 2003. Bree received over a dozen blood transfusions while she was in a coma and during surgery in order to treat her illness. She is now fully recovered, thanks to the generosity of blood donors.
	Amanda Hanson is battling Hereditary Spherocytosis, a type of anemia. She has received blood transfusions as part of her treatment and may require more in the future. By donating today, you can help to ensure that blood is available for Amanda and patients like her.
	Carmel Valley resident, Carson Cloyd was diagnosed with leukemia when he was six years old. He has undergone numerous surgeries and has required blood and platelet transfusions to treat his condition. He is now getting stronger and is on the road to recovery.
	La Mesa resident, Danica Voight received blood transfusions as part of her treatment for severe aplastic anemia before recently undergoing a successful bone marrow transplant. Your donation can help to ensure that other patient's lives are extended so that they can also find a matching donor.
	Jacob was 17 when he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2002, and required several blood transfusions as part of his treatment. Though he relapsed two years later, in 2005 he received a life-saving bone marrow transplant. Jacob is now fully recovered and working his way through medical school, thanks to the generosity of blood donors.
	El Cajon resident, Kathryn Ford was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia when she was just 9 years old. Kathryn received many blood and platelet transfusions as part of her treatment and she is now fully recovered, thanks to the generous donors of the San Diego Blood Bank.
	Your blood donation will help patients like local resident Kelsey Loo, who relied on blood transfusions to stay healthy while searching for a matching bone marrow donor to cure leukemia. Help make sure blood is available for patients like Kelsey.
	Carlsbad resident, Kennedy Kraus was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Kennedy received transfusions as part of her treatment until recently undergoing a successful bone marrow transplant.
	Santee resident Kyle Hanson was born with a congenital heart defect. After several surgeries and many blood transfusions, Kyle is now on the road to recovery, thanks to the generous donations of the San Diego Blood Bank donors.
	Stefanie Sacknoff, who grew up in Poway,  received weekly blood transfusions for most of her life as part of her treatment for Aplastic Anemia before recently undergoing a successful bone marrow transplant. Your blood donation can help to ensure that other patients have a chance to find a matching donor.