When Giving Comes Naturally: Christiane Hughes Reaches 25 Gallons of Donated Blood

And it all began in 1971 with a college student who wanted to go home early. Christiane Hughes was attending school in Syracuse when a blood drive offered students a pretty appealing incentive: donate blood and go home for the rest of the day. She decided to give it a try.

When staff had trouble finding her vein, Christiane jokingly gave them a limit. “Three times and I’m out of here!” She stayed. What started as a lighthearted reason to leave school early became something much bigger. More than 50 years later, Christiane has now reached 25 gallons of blood donated through the American Red Cross.

In many ways, that kind of giving fits naturally into the rest of Christiane’s life. For more than 20 years, she has fostered cats and kittens in need. When the call comes asking whether she can help, Christiane’s answer has often been yes. She and her family have also raised dogs through Guiding Eyes for the Blind, caring for and training them before eventually letting them go on to serve someone who needed their assistance. That same instinct to give carries into her work. For the past seven years, Christiane has served as a purchasing agent with The Arc Otsego, where she also teaches stained glass classes.

For someone who considers herself reserved, Christiane has quietly spent much of her life stepping forward when there is an opportunity to help. Her blood donation journey followed much the same pattern. Christiane tried to donate regularly over the years, although work, raising a family and everyday responsibilities sometimes got in the way. “Life gets messy,” she said.  

But the interruptions never became a reason to stop. When the Red Cross contacted her and there was a need for blood, Christiane would carve out the time and, as she put it, “just kept movin’.”

Eventually, the gallons began to add up. About 10 years ago, she challenged herself to reach 20 gallons donated. She did it. Then, with the same humor that has followed her since her first Syracuse blood drive, Christiane decided there was no reason to stop there. “Well, okay. My new goal is 25!” Now, she has reached that milestone too. “I personally can’t believe it,” she said.

Over the decades, Christiane has also watched the donation experience change. One change she especially values is the communication donors now receive about their blood after giving. Technology allows donors to receive general updates about where a donation has traveled and that it has been sent somewhere to meet a need. For Christiane, that small connection to the life of a donation has made a lasting impression. “It warms my heart to know it’s being used and where it’s going,” she said.

That may be the best way to describe Christiane’s approach to giving: no fanfare, no expectation of recognition, just a willingness to help wherever she can and to “just keep movin’.”

Written by: Cinnamon Morris, Communications Volunteer, American Red Cross of WNY

Spreading the Love, One Donation at a Time

The year was 1968. Fall was in full swing, and 14-year-old Christine Camann was sanding her family’s porch railing with bright orange Rust-Oleum. For a moment, she wondered whether they should leave it that color for the season’s festivities.

But another thought lingered in the back of her mind.

Is my dad going to be okay?

Christine’s father was scheduled to undergo surgery to replace two valves in his heart. The family had been told to expect him to remain in intensive care for about a week following the procedure. Instead, to Christine’s surprise, he returned home that same day. “They can’t do the surgery,” her father told the family. “They don’t have enough blood.”

Both Christine and her father were O negative. O-negative red blood cells can be given to patients of any blood type, making them especially valuable in emergencies. But for people with O-negative blood, the compatibility does not work in reverse—they can receive only O-negative red blood cells. For Christine, the importance of an adequate blood supply suddenly became deeply personal.

“I resolved right then that I didn’t want anybody else ever to be in a situation where the doctors couldn’t take care of them because they didn’t have enough blood,” Christine recalled. “I felt bad because I couldn’t donate. I was only 14.”

At the time, donors had to be at least 18 years old. Christine did not specify exactly when she made her first donation, but the experience with her father became part of what would inspire a decades-long commitment to giving blood.

Over the years, Christine found more reasons to continue. She read stories about patients who depended on donated blood. She knew people personally, including her father, whose medical care had been affected by its availability. And sometimes, a few weeks after giving blood, she would receive a notification letting her know where her donation had gone. Some of those messages told her that her blood had helped premature babies.

For Christine, those reminders connected the donation process to the people on the other side of it. A little time spent donating could mean something much larger for a patient or family in need.

As the years passed, the donations added up.

Christine received milestone pins recognizing how many gallons of blood she had given. Eventually, she lost count of them. She knew she had passed 10 gallons, but the recognition was never what kept her returning. Then she received notice that she had reached 20 gallons. A larger milestone pin made its mark.

“Maybe I oughtta get this one!” she said.

Christine has also watched the donation experience evolve through the years. As the Red Cross has strengthened and refined its screening process, donor questionnaires have become more detailed, while advances in technology have helped make other parts of the donation process faster and more efficient.

There is one change, however, that Christine remembers particularly well: the snacks. Years ago, organizations sponsoring blood drives were responsible for providing refreshments. Donors were encouraged to drink water or fruit juice and eat a snack after giving blood. When churches hosted drives, Christine remembers homemade treats, including pies, appearing at the refreshment table.

Today, donors are more likely to find prepackaged snacks. “I understand the reasons for prepackaged foods,” Christine said, “but boy, I thought the homemade stuff was a really good deal!” The refreshments are not the only thing that has made Christine’s donation experiences memorable. She typically donates four to six times a year and does not always encounter the same staff members. Still, some manage to remember her.

It may have something to do with the cow.

During a blood donation, donors are often given something soft to squeeze in their hand. Christine began bringing her own—a small rubber cow whose legs she could lock her fingers around while donating. The cow developed a reputation of its own. “Oh, you’re the one that has the cow!” Christine recalled hearing from staff members. Over time, she joked, the cow gained a little “infamy.”

The homemade pies, milestone pins and infamous cow bring humor to Christine’s memories, but beneath them is the same motivation that began decades ago with a 14-year-old girl worrying about her father. She knows what a blood donation can mean when someone needs it.

For anyone who has never donated but is considering it, Christine points to how much impact can come from a relatively small investment of time and effort.

“It’s amazing what a little time and effort can do for other people in need,” she said. “Go for it, that’s what I would say.”

After decades of giving, Christine’s story is marked not only by incredible commitment, but by the care, consistency and generosity behind each donation. From the pledge she made at 14 to the many donations that followed, her motivation has remained rooted in helping others when they need it most.

In Christine’s words, it comes down to something incredibly impactful but quite simple:

“Just spread the love.”

There is a critical need for blood donors as the readily available blood supply reached a four-year summer low. You can spread the love by helping to ensure that patients receive the lifesaving care they need by making an appointment to donate. 

Visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or download the free Red Cross Blood Donor app to find an appointment nearest you.

Written by: Cinnamon Morris, Communications Volunteer, Red Cross of WNY

A Mother's Mission, A Son's Strength: Fighting for Sickle Cell Warriors

As Executive Director of Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo, Melaney Agahiu’s mission is to educate and advocate for Sickle Cell Warriors across the community.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people turn a blind eye when they, unless it hits home. It’s easy to just ignore. I challenge people to learn about sickle cell and how it impacts people, and how they can help.”

For Melaney, that challenge is especially personal. Her son, 18-year-old Drew Agahiu, is a warrior himself.

“Initially, I was coming into Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo for support. Then it turned into a lot of volunteering. Sometimes it’s just being able to talk to someone who just gets it.”

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the United States, and it’s estimated that more than 100,000 people have sickle cell nationwide. Sickle cell disease distorts soft, round blood cells, turning them hard and crescent-shaped, which can lead to severe pain, tissue and organ failure, anemia, infections and strokes.

Throughout their journey, Drew and Melaney have been fortunate to be surrounded by a large community of supporters each making an impact, from family, friends, their Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo family – and a community of strangers nationwide.

“It means a lot to me,” Drew explained. “I feel like blood donors give a lot of support to me. Actually, they give 100 percent support to me. It’s hard to put into words.”

For warriors like Drew, regular blood and platelet transfusions are critical to managing extreme pain and life-threatening complications caused by sickle cell. After receiving multiple transfusions over the course of his treatment, Drew began receiving monthly apheresis transfusions two years ago.

“If it weren’t for people donating blood, Drew would probably be in a much worse condition,” Melaney said. “Before that, it was 6 or 7 hospital admissions a year. You know, it would be maybe 5 days to, you know, 6 to 8 weeks that he would be in the hospital, and that would include a handful of ICU admissions. Now, he probably has one hospital admission a year, maybe. It’s a blessing. He still obviously experiences pain and has crises, but oftentimes we can manage it at home, and I know for a fact that’s because of the transfusions.”

Noting her son’s extra energy as a result, Drew was quick to agree with a smile. 

“Now that we’ve been doing it once a month, that’s been a big change for me and it’s helping with my pain.”

That’s why Melaney says her work challenging the public to educate themselves on sickle cell is doubly important.  

Transfusions rely heavily on donors who carry CEK-negative antigens, which provides the best blood match and helps alleviate symptoms for those fighting sickle cell. Blood donors who are African American are nearly three times more likely to be CEK-negative than donors of a different race or ethnicity.

“Why is it important for people to donate blood?” Melaney asked. “It’s because it saved his life and other Sickle Cell Warriors. I can speak firsthand. I see the night and day.”

Drew agreed, “Don’t be afraid. You’re the biggest help to sickle cell warriors. Your support helps me to be there to hang out with friends or enjoy special moments.”

As our nation observes Juneteenth and World Sickle Cell Day on Friday, June 19, the Red Cross is honoring sickle cell warriors like Drew, the light they carry and the community of blood donors who surround them.

Every donation helps patients continue to thrive. The Red Cross encourages eligible donors of all backgrounds to make an appointment to give blood and help ensure patients with sickle cell disease have access to the lifesaving transfusions they need.

Those who come to give blood June 1-28, 2026, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice and be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7,500 gift cards.

Make an appointment to donate by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Written by: Meg Rossman, American Red Cross of WNY

Five Sisters, One Mission: A Family's Lifelong Commitment to Service

When you grow up in a family of nine siblings – seven girls and two boys – it’s only natural that you’d become skilled in the art of “give and take.” 

For the Travis (maiden name) sisters Martha (Hanley), Betsy (Simpson), Sarah (Sennett), Susan and Nancy (Tellier), the giving part was especially mastered as all five have volunteered for the American Red Cross at some point.  Four are currently volunteering (Nancy recently stepped away from her role) for the American Red Cross, three in the Western New York Region and one, Betsy, in Florida’s Palm Coast Chapter as she splits time between Vero Beach, Florida and her home in Geneseo.

While Nancy was not able to participate in a recent group conversation, the enthusiasm for, and dedication to volunteering with the Red Cross readily flowed from the very close-knit group. For most of the Travis sisters, their experience with the Red Cross started out as blood donors and many have served as volunteer Blood Donor Ambassadors.

“I remember my first donation attempt was in high school (West Irondequoit). They had a drive at our high school, so I was 17 at that time,” said Susan, recounting that she could not donate because “I was nice and skinny then, too underweight. But I didn't give up, kept trying.”

School was also the backdrop for Betsy’s desire to help others through blood donation.

“I started donating in college (SUNY Potsdam) - freshman year in college - and same thing,” she said, piggybacking off Susan’s experience.  “Sometimes I was able to donate, sometimes not because of anemia mainly.”

By the time 1992 rolled around, many of the Travis girls had become regular blood donors. They were also already passing along the importance of giving to the next generation.

“Susan and I are twins, and our girls (Sarah’s daughter Elizabeth, and Susan’s daughter Laura) were born only a day and a half apart” Sarah shared, adding yet another layer to the unique, close bond of the sisters. 

“They had just started kindergarten, and we went to Red Cross on Prince Street to donate blood, Susan and I. The girls wanted to give blood and Susan and I told them they couldn’t because they were too little. We said, ‘next time we come to donate, you can bring a toy.’ So, the next time we went to give blood, weeks later, we let them each bring a toy to donate into this toy box they had in the waiting area.

“Really this was just doing it for the girls' sake so that they could give, like we were giving blood. Somewhere, someone got word the PR office or something. This lady came down with a photographer, and they took their picture and information. It was so sweet. They followed up even a month or two later with a newsletter and a printout of the picture.”

“I just love that story because that's how the Red Cross, I think, still exists; they're so appreciative. Anything you can do, you do your part. I think Susan feels the same way. It just grabbed me that they took that regard and care and followed up and all that,” said Sarah, explaining how the pull to be involved with the Red Cross grew even stronger.

“So, between 1992, and 2001, we just donated blood. We both worked full-time, so we weren't doing drives or anything.”

Beyond Sarah’s brief role as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer in the mid-1990s, it was the tragic events of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 that inspired Sarah and Susan to jump into an ongoing, formal volunteer role with the Red Cross.

“That's when we signed up to be full-time volunteers. It was because of 9/11,” Susan stated, asking her twin, Sarah for confirmation.

Right on cue, the same memory comes back to Sarah.

“Oh, that rings a bell. And that's the same year we started volunteering full-time for blood services – 2001.”

Having her sisters involved with her wasn’t enough for Sarah.  She pulled her husband, Mark, into the fold as well. 

“When he retired. I was still working, but then that's when we joined - in September, following 9-11, which I'm sure drew lots of people into volunteerism.”

Similar to Sarah, Susan also engaged in DAT responses, from around 2003 to 2005, before she began to deploy nationally to continue to serve those experiencing disaster.

“Afterwards, I did Katrina. That's how I tried to stay in it,” Susan said, explaining her first deployment was in response to one of the worst disasters in U.S. history.

The “twin effect” often surfaced during the storytelling, with Sarah and Susan at times finishing each other’s sentences or having similar, shared experiences.

One of the benefits of Susan’s service during Katrina was the opportunity to meet an individual who would become one of her best friends.

“We stayed in touch. She just died last year. Sarah became friends with her too. This is a funny story. So, Sarah later deployed to Texas. And this friend of mine (Pat) was also deploying to Texas. She lived in Knoxville, Illinois and I had gone to visit her a couple of times.

“And I said, well, look for Sarah and she said ‘oh yeah, she looks just like you. I'll look for her. And Sarah was going to look for her because I'd shown Sarah what Pat looked like. And weren't they standing together at the dome in Texas?”

Sarah jumps right in, continuing the story.

“It was Hurricane Harvey, headquarters pre-storm, in Houston, and there had to be 300 Red Crossers in that room, just like ants packed in because they brought everybody in pre-storm. And then she saw me - I'm tall and Susan's tall. She came up and tapped me on the shoulder. She was maybe 78-80 at the time. And this woman's amazing… she tapped me shoulder and asked, ‘are you Susan's sister’? This little white-haired lady behind me was so cute. And then we became fast friends. Mark (Sarah’s husband) was on that deployment as well, so Mark and I sent a picture of her to Susan.”

Volunteering for the Red Cross is just one part of the history of shared experience for these five Travis sisters as Betsy explained that all five also worked for the New York court system at the Monroe County Hall of Justice.

“Sarah and Susan started the blood drives in the courthouse at the Hall of Justice, and I was giving blood during those,” Betsy states.  “Then I got a promotion and moved out to the Ontario County courthouse in Canandaigua. So, then I started blood drives there and did that from 2010 to 2020, when I retired. 

“Then I came down to Florida, and I'm like, ‘I really want to do something’. So, Sarah and her husband, Mark, were deploying to Naples and Sanibel Island for Hurricane Ian (2022) and I did all the training, and I got to deploy with them. I was lucky enough to do it with Sarah and Mark - I was a newbie. After that, we did Milton and we did the Nashville Ice Storm.”

That concurrent deployment of Betsy, Sarah and Mark was the closest the Travis clan has had to all of them working together, though Susan immediately chimes in that “that’s the goal for me, we all go together!”

Martha, a retired Wayne County Schools Speech Teacher and Ontario, NY resident, is the eldest of the sisters who volunteer, yet also content to let her sisters tell the family story before sharing that she, too, started her tenure as a volunteer for blood drives.

“I started as a Blood Donor Ambassador (BDA), two years before COVID, and I think my sisters are my inspirations. You know, they were doing blood drives and I was giving blood. My husband gives blood, double reds always. I saw them in blood drives and donation centers and thought, ‘I could do this’. So, I did. And then last year, 2025, they had a DCS boot camp. So, Susan, myself, and our friend Jane decided to do the boot camp. We thought that was done, that was all for the training. But then there was lots of training after that! So, I’m already doing local DAT for Wayne County, and I've done mass care and sheltering.” 

When asked to share some of their most memorable moments serving with the Red Cross, Betsy was eager to respond.

“So, we went to Hurricane Ian and I think we were in the Naples area and doing the mass feeding. We were going out and it kept raining and it kept reflooding and reflooding. But we kept going with the ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) and feeding them. I kind of got to know the ladies and stuff. And they were really sweet. Every day they would teach me some Spanish language and they were just really, really nice.”

“The last day they brought me little handmade things,” Betsy recalls. “We were all crying and it was so sad that we had to leave.”

Susan immediately responds with a similar but unique experience.

“It's so funny. My passport cover is an alligator red leather passport cover that one of the co-volunteers bought for me. It's still my passport cover today. So, people were great. Everybody, the residents within the shelters were phenomenal, and your co-workers were phenomenal.  It was an amazing experience. Really, what I say about my experience, at least with Katrina - and all the volunteerism - you get more out of it than you give.”

Martha quickly adds that her local experience provides a reward as well.

“I've been training for mass care and for feeding, ready to go, but not lucky (to deploy) like my sisters. But local DAT is very meaningful too, I feel.”

Sarah also shared how she has been touched by the gratitude of those she has helped.

“It was (Hurricane) Matthew back in 2016. This young couple, their names escaped me right now…but we fell in love with them, who we're still friends with on Facebook, all the other clients and stuff. And they came up to me, and they said - still makes me cry – ‘you really made a difference’.

“I don't know, it was weird, but I've just never forgotten how struck I was when they said that to me because I had no clue. But you're being appreciated, even though you might not know it.”

What’s even more striking is that this group of sisters is not the first generation of the Travis family to volunteer for the Red Cross and other organizations. Their mother, Anne, served as a Blood Donor Ambassador from 2001-2005 and is part of their inspiration for serving today.

“It's funny because I met somebody at Red Cross last week and I did this event out in Hamlin,” Susan says. “He goes, ‘are you a Travis?’ He remembered my mom, me and Sarah, because we did Meals on Wheels. We've all done other volunteer work too. I have a special needs daughter. I volunteer for that agency.”

For Martha, it comes down to something more simple.

“Reaching out and community is important. I don't know, I just like to help people and I believe my sisters are all the same way. And Mark, of course, we know that about Mark, our wonderful brother-in-law.”

As all of the sisters compliment their brother-in-law, Sarah states that they have been married for 43 years as of October.  With a quick grin, her twin, Susan, jokes that “he’s only kissed me once by mistake.”

When asked if working alongside your sisters makes it an extra special volunteer experience, Susan responds in a more serious tone.

“Damn straight. It's like when we all worked together in the court system. We have this tie and we can get together and we get to talk about experiences and people we met and trying to do it together when we can. And just what a great experience we've all been able to share and that we've all gotten the amazing feeling from volunteering for the Red Cross.”

95-Year-Old Navy Veteran Continues to Serve via Lifetime of Blood Donations

95-Year-Old Navy Veteran Continues to Serve via Lifetime of Blood Donations

Among the many bits of wisdom shared by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a question he posed during one of his sermons: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"  

For James Reed, that is a question he has answered many times, in many ways.

Reed, a 95-year-old Navy veteran, has been a blood donor for nearly his entire adult life, recently surpassing the 22-gallon mark for his donations.  Because he donates blood roughly every two months, he’s become a familiar and popular face for the staff at the Red Cross Mobile site on University Avenue in Rochester, as a large group gathers around him to catch up as his phlebotomist sets up his donation process. 

Reed regales them with stories of his service in the Navy and then jokes about the donation “competition” he has with his 59-year-old son, who is a platelet donor.

A native of Bristol Valley, NY, approximately 30 miles south of Rochester, Reed shared some of the humble memories of his early years.

“I was six years old when we got electricity in our house,” he recalls, “and my first seven years of school were in a one-room schoolhouse.”

From his parents, he learned lessons that he would carry throughout his lifetime, including the concept of being of service to others.  His inspiration in becoming a blood donor was influenced in part by his mother’s history of donating.

“My mother had done it (donating blood) but had to stop when she was 72.”

After completing high school, Reed volunteered to enlist in the U.S. Navy, in the early stages of the Korean War (“I felt it was right to volunteer your time for Uncle Sam,” he states casually.).  He was initially assigned to a repair ship based in Newport, Rhode Island.  His concern for others quickly emerged while stationed on the ship.  One of his crewmates, who was married with a young child, was going to be reassigned to another ship and port and was distraught about being separated from his wife and child.  Reed saw this and approached one of his commanding officers and volunteered to take his shipmate’s new assignment, on an icebreaker that made frequent trips to clear paths approaching the North Pole, where submarines might travel.  

“If I could stop him from being separated from his wife and baby, I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Before completing his military service, Reed also started his blood donation journey.

“An officer’s wife was ill and in need of blood transfusions. An officer in the medical department made me aware that I had the right blood type to donate.  I was glad I did it.” 

After his discharge from the Navy and after earning a degree at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology), Reed continued to live a life of service to others, leading the Monroe County Department of Social Services. Heading a department that provides services to more than 50,000 individuals each year was a heavy load, and a personal tragedy led Reed to evaluate where he wanted to spend his time.

“My sister died of cancer at 42, leaving behind four boys. She died in June and in August of that year her 17-year-old boy was killed by a drunk driver running a red light.  On the way home from the funeral, I looked in the back seat at my two boys and told my wife ‘these guys are only young once, and I’m bringing home work every night.’”

A leader at RIT’s Business School informed Reed of an opportunity to bring his leadership skills and desire to be of service to others to the not-for-profit sector, which led him to being appointed as Director of Family Services of Rochester. After overseeing an expansion of that agency’s social services program, Reed retired in 1994. 

Still not finished giving back, he volunteered at Lifetime Care, serving as a hospice volunteer. After stepping away for a time to care for his wife, who had been diagnosed with Multi Systems Apathy (MSA), a degenerative disease similar to ALS, Reed returned to his volunteer role after her death in 2001.  To this day, he still volunteers and leads small group bereavement sessions.

As for his commitment to donating blood, the fulfillment he felt after that initial donation during his service in the U.S. Navy has remained with him to the present.

“I always have a good feeling that somebody is being helped and it doesn’t cost me anything,” he says.

Reed is also thrilled that he now receives information on where his donations are being used.

“The last time I gave I got a message that it went to a young boy who had a (medical) problem. I remember saying my prayers and thanking God for my being able to help that boy.”

Written by: Michael Tedesco, Regional Communications Director, American Red Cross of WNY

Determined to help: Red Crosser finds fulfilling commitment in rolling up a sleeve

As we age, it is almost inevitable that we will know someone, a family member or friend, who will be diagnosed with cancer. This was true in my life and was driven home by my wife’s diagnosis of breast cancer in 2019. Her diagnosis, treatment and recovery were very successful and now, more than six years later she is a model of recovery.

At the end of that journey, when the anxiety and fear had begun to subside, I was left wondering what I could do to help others facing health issues. I began volunteering for many research studies and have found that quite rewarding but something was still missing. I needed a tangible result from my involvement. A friend of mine mentioned that she was on her way to donate blood and it struck me that I could donate as well.

My involvement with the Red Cross began with a visit to https://www.redcrossblood.org and downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor app. On June 9, 2023, I donated my first pint of whole blood and continued doing so every 2 months, which is the maximum donation limit.

Photo: Joe Booth, August 2025

As 2025 began with the mandatory New Year’s resolutions, I began digging deeper into the Red Cross website and discovered platelet donation. Now I donate both whole blood and platelets, with both donations vitally important. So far this year, I have donated platelets eight times. People can donate platelets every 7 days up to 24 times per year. Platelets only have a shelf life of five days so we know when we donate platelets that those platelets will quickly head to someone in need.

Given my wife’s experience with cancer, I was moved when I learned that approximately 50% of donated platelets go to help cancer patients whose own platelets can be destroyed by their disease or their necessary treatments. Other patients who depend upon platelets include accident and burn victims, those undergoing heart or transplant surgery, and those dealing with sickle cell disease. A unique feature of the blood donor app that I enjoy tells the donor where their blood and platelet donations end up. It is so amazing to see those red pins pop up all over the Northeast where patients in need received my donation! My donations have gone as far north as Watertown, NY; as far west as Pittsburgh, PA; east to New York City and south to Baltimore.

I have found the fulfilling commitment I was looking for! Donating whole blood or platelets is easy, and as an added benefit, each platelet bed has a big monitor complete with Netflix. You can load up your favorite show and relax!

Photo: Joe Booth, August 2025

To make blood and platelet donation even more accessible, the Red Cross recently celebrated a new blood donation center on the east side of Monroe County. The B. Thomas Golisano Blood Donation Center is a renovated and expanded blood donation center located in the Perinton Hills Shopping Center on Pittsford-Palmyra Road. The center handles all types of blood donations and is staffed by truly wonderful people.

I would encourage you to consider joining me as a blood and platelet donor.  You may not know that 62% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood but only about 3% donate. The need for blood is constant as every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. And a single blood donation can help save more than one life.

September is a great time to become a blood donor and make a huge impact on our friends and neighbors in need.  September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that has no universal cure. Blood transfusions can help reduce recurrent pain crises patients often feel, as well as other complications. Your blood type could be the perfect match to help a patient with sickle cell disease.

September is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. These young patients may need blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment. Give blood and help support kids, teens and young adults facing cancer.

So let’s roll up our sleeves and get donating! Go to RedCrossBlood.org for more information. 

Written by: Rick Pearson 

Rick is a Communications Volunteer and also serves as a Blood Drive Ambassador at blood drives in the Greater Rochester chapter for the American Red Cross of Western New York.

Blood Donor Spotlight: Sir Squeaks A Lot & Piggy Smalls

Every two seconds, someone is in need in lifesaving blood and volunteer blood donors are the only source.

That makes all blood donors heroes – even the furry, four-legged ones.

Photo credit: Ben Read

Meet Sir Squeaks a Lot and his partner, Piggy Smalls. The pair of guinea pigs were abandoned in an apartment hallway and recently rescued by Jess Meacham.

“A neighbor called and said I don’t know what to do,” Meacham explained. “Unfortunately, we get emergency calls all the time.”

Meacham founded the Buffalo Guinea Pig Rescue Mafia one year ago and has since helped to rescue and find homes for more than 100 local guinea pigs. When Oliver, one of the first guinea pigs she helped to place in a loving home took a turn for the worse, Meacham says she never expected what would happen next.

“Oliver’s veterinarian did a full work up and it turns out he had three bladder stones and needed surgery,” she explained. “After surgery he went down hill very quickly and his doctor recommended a blood transfusion. I’ve had experience as a human blood donor before, but never with animals.”

Given their age and size, Meacham brought Sir Squeaks a Lot and Piggy Smalls to the veterinarian to see if either might be a match for a blood transfusion in Oliver’s case. She says the veterinarian shared that given Oliver’s condition what happened next was nothing short of a miracle.

“Sir Squeaks a Lot saved the day. He’s literally a hero and saved Oliver’s life. Oliver looks fantastic now.”

Now, Sir Squeaks a Lot is looking for a hero of his own. He and his pal Piggy Smalls are up for adoption. The two come as a pair as Meacham says that Guinea Pigs don’t like to be separated from their partners.

“They’re big old sweeties the both of them and they love each other a whole bunch.”

You can be a hero like Sir Squeaks a Lot by making your own appointment to give blood or platelets and help keep the blood supply strong this summer. Type O blood products are most needed on hospital shelves right now – especially in the face of seasonal challenges like severe weather, summer fun and more.

Make the world brighter for patients in need. Schedule your appointment to donate blood or platelets today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800 RED CROSS or downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor app to your smartphone.

"It was a chain-reaction:" How blood donation led a local health care advocate to support Sickle Cell warriors in need

From a young age, Jasmine Westbrook understood the importance of blood donation.

“The first time I was introduced to donating blood I was in high school. We had a drive, but you know, when you’re in high school, you don’t have the best diet – especially breakfast. You’re not eating right, so a majority of us, myself included, couldn’t donate,” she laughed. “I initially donated blood about 10 years ago in college during a drive and I was a little bit more educated on having a balanced meal the night before and before the donation.”

She credits her mother, a longtime blood donor herself, for inspiring her to set a routine early on in life.

“We just want to do good,” Westbook explains. “In the last five years, I’ve started donating regularly once I really understood what my blood donation could do. How it could really impact somebody. I was doing it because I knew it would help people.”

But it was after Westbrook attended a panel discussion on Sickle Cell Disease co-hosted by Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo, the American Red Cross of Western New York and community partners that she began to look at her role as a blood donor in a new light.

“I attended and I really learned about the CEK-negative component.”

There are an estimated 100,000 people suffering from the effects of Sickle Cell disease in the United States. From pain to organ failure, patients with Sickle Cell often face serious medical complications due to an inherited gene that creates sickle-shaped red blood cells, causing difficulty in navigating through small blood vessels. As a result, blood transfusions are vital to treatment, with some patients requiring approximately 100 transfusions per year.

Transfusions rely heavily on donors who carry CEK-negative antigens, which provides the best blood match and helps alleviate symptoms for those fighting Sickle Cell. Blood donors who are African American are nearly three times more likely to be CEK-negative than donors of a different race or ethnicity.

To help increase the availability of close-matching blood for Sickle Cell patients, the American Red Cross launched the Sickle Cell Initiative in 2021. Since the launch, more than 125,000 first-time African American donors have rolled up a sleeve to help strengthen and diversify the blood supply. And as part of that initiative, more than 260,000 Sickle Cell trait screenings have been provided to donors.

“I left that event and wanted to know if I had that protein, because people talk about blood types, but they don’t always talk about that,” Westbrook says. “That day, I donated double reds, they tested it, and I got the card was told I was CEK-negative.”

Since then, Westbrook’s personal and professional motivations to encourage others to roll up a sleeve have taken on new meaning. A health care advocate with the Healthcare Education Project, Westbrook works directly with patients and the public through community events and uses the opportunity to inspire and educate others to donate not only for themselves but patients – especially Sickle Cell Warriors in need.

“I feel like it’s my duty because I have a protein in my blood that allows me to really help people and specifically in the African American community. A lot of the work that I do is coming back to my cultural group and knowing that I have the protein in my blood – that will really help people with sickle cell, which is an illness that is high in our community. Of course, I’ll share my blood. A big part of my role is advocacy on a statewide level for access to health care. I’m able to share information with people to help keep our community more educated, like with Sickle Cell. When the conversation comes up now, I’m equipped with information to say, ‘Why don’t you donate and see if you have that protein?’ I’m helping to pass the word around so we can have a healthier community. So, it’s personal for me and its business.”

You can learn more and help give to patients in need by making an appointment to donate at RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor app to your smartphone.

Meg Rossman, Regional Communications Manager, American Red Cross of Western New York

On a path to saving lives: 16-year-old marks third blood donation

At 16 years old, Jupiter Brady-McCullough is at an exciting crossroads in life. A junior in high school, the Ithaca resident is just beginning to consider college and different career paths, including an EMT certification – and this past December, they embarked on an unexpected journey when a Red Cross blood drive was held at their school.

“I was excited because I’m kind of getting to the age where you can do some things that you couldn’t really do before. So, when I learned that you could donate at 16, I thought, ‘Oh, cool! Another thing to try!’ I definitely knew it would be useful to someone and it was my hope that it would make someone feel better.”

Despite some first-time jitters, Brady-McCullough deemed the appointment a success, thanks to a “pretty decent” snack spread and the fact that they may or may not have missed a less than favorite class (shhh), but it was the information they received after the appointment that started Brady-McCullough on a new path to help patients in need.  

“I got super interested in blood donations. I started researching it a bunch, and then I found out my blood type and I was like, ‘Oh this is so interesting!’ Then I sort of started ranting to my friend group about it and got them to start donating, too.”

Brady-McCullough also made a point to download the Red Cross Blood Donor app which allows users to schedule and manage appointments, track your blood journey and save time at appointments with RapidPass. By using the app, they were able to learn their blood type which set them up on the path for their next blood donation this past winter.

“I read somewhere that I read A-positive is a good platelet donation type, but there was nowhere near me that has that technology stuff and I wanted to see how it was. So, I asked my mom if we were going to Costco soon, because there was a Red Cross place in Rochester to donate platelets. My mom told me when we were going to Costco and I looked at the schedule, made an appointment and I went there and I watched a movie while my family shopped, and that was an even better experience.”

Every two seconds, someone in the United States is in need of lifesaving blood or platelets and volunteer donors like Brady-McCullough are the only source. In fact, approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S., and nearly 5,000 units of platelets, that must be used within five days of a donation, are needed daily. Platelets form the clotting component in blood and are vital to the treatment of patients battling cancer, chronic diseases and traumatic injuries.

With such a finite shelf life, the need for blood is constant but supply can’t always meet demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people roll up a sleeve to donate yearly. Heading into the summer season, the American Red Cross critically needs blood as severe weather and record-breaking travel are expected to continue to impact the ability of donors to give.  

On June 4, Brady-McCullough made their third appointment to donate blood alongside friend Ava, with no plans to stop any time soon.

“I like the feeling of it, to be honest. Spending my time doing something that would positively impact someone’s life. It gave me a little surge of happiness. Something about blood donation is like, ‘Here I am, and I am helping someone else in their life.’ I think it is one of the better decisions I’ve made in my life and I think it’s an easy enough thing to fit into your schedule. And if I hear of another Costco trip, I’ll be like, ‘Hey, let’s go!’”

You can help patients in need this summer by making blood donation a priority, just like Jupiter, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800 RED CROSS, or using the free Red Cross Blood Donor app.

Written by: Meg Rossman, Regional Communications Manager, American Red Cross of WNY

Trauma Awareness Month: 2x Blood Recipient & Long-Time Donor Inspiring a New Generation of Donors

May signals the beginning of a busy time for celebrations and summer holidays, including Mother’s Day. But the month of May is also Trauma Awareness Month, a time where the American Red Cross reminds donors that it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps to save lives during emergencies. 

Few people may understand that better than Paula Pimm.

The Canisteo resident first found herself in need of a lifesaving blood transfusion when she was just hours old.

“My first blood transfusion was when I was born,” she explains. “I couldn’t reproduce my own blood cells. I was jaundiced and transferred to Rochester. As the youngest of five kids, it was hard for my parents, and I needed transfusions until my body was able to work like it needed to.”

Years later, the elementary school counselor, wife and proud mother of two daughters would find herself in need of a transfusion again due to complications in childbirth.

“I was bleeding so much, and they couldn’t stop it. My doctor was a very calm man, nothing really ruffled his feathers, but he told me that I was going to deal with some difficulties because it was serious. They made my husband stay in the room with me my whole stay, and those things didn’t happen as much 22 years ago. By the time they stitched me up three hours later, I was white as a ghost.”

For Pimm, much of the experience itself was a blur and she credits her faith in helping her to pull through. But in recounting her story more than two decades later, she recalls one detail in particular that stood out to her husband.

“One of the things that my husband remembers is that my doctor actually called for two units of blood, and literally the blood bank at the hospital asked, ‘Are you sure you need two?’ It was the month of May, heading into the summer months, and I’m sure they were probably thinking that things might be low and maybe had to question whether to send two even with the circumstance that was happening.”

Thankfully, Mom and baby were healthy and continue to be to this day. Pimm shares that both her daughters got married in the last 18 months. It was at her daughter’s wedding that she also got to share a special dance with her father, John, her inspiration for donating lifesaving blood to fellow patients in need since she was just 17 years old.

“Whenever he could he donated. He was up to three gallons when I was a kid. When I was in fifth grade, he had a massive heart attack and in his open-heart surgery he needed a blood transfusion. So, as soon as I turned 17 and was able to donate, I started.”

As a regular donor at Red Cross blood drives at her school, it’s a story that Pimm proudly shares with fellow staff and many first-time donors, particularly high school seniors, because the blood on the shelves that could go to help a friend or loved one – might very well be their own.

“People were willing to do it for me and my Dad, so I want to help other people and give back to them in those times. I am so thankful for whoever it was that donated for me, and my Dad. He’s still alive today. As a baby, I could not have made it but then, as a new mom with a toddler and a newborn, my husband could have been raising them alone. I am a counselor and I like to help people! It’s a small way to help, but what an easy way to give back.”

While no one can predict when an emergency or accident might happen, donors can help hospitals stay prepared and stocked with blood products this spring and year-round. Donors of all types – especially those giving type O blood or platelets – are vital to patients counting on blood products for critical medical procedures. During this busy time of year especially, every single donation can help keep the blood supply stable for patients in need. You can make an appointment to help provide lifesaving care by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app or calling 1-800-RED CROSS today.

Written by: Meg Rossman, Regional Communications Manager, American Red Cross of WNY

"Take it from someone who has been there": Local blood drive host shares full circle moment

“Please give blood, you never know when you or one of yours will need it”. I’ve written those words many times over the past couple years in an effort to have people sign up for our Red Cross blood drive at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cohocton, NY. My time came on November 9, 2023 when I had a heart attack that required bypass surgery. One of the last things I had to do prior to going into surgery was to be tested and to sign off on accepting blood transfusion if needed. It was at this point I was so glad that the American Red Cross does those drives.

If you’re lucky enough to have crossed paths with Carl Drum, it’s likely you received the message above late last week. Despite a lifechanging heart attack last fall, the president of the congregation at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has been hard at work hoping to encourage others to roll up a sleeve in the midst of an ongoing blood shortage nationwide.

“I’ve always said on Facebook and anywhere that I contact people, ‘you never know when it might be you.’ And then all of a sudden, that happened. It was me. One of the last things I did in the pre-op room was sign papers saying that if I needed blood that I was willing to take your blood – actually, my blood!”

It was a full circle moment for Drum, who worked with the American Red Cross of Western New York to begin hosting regular blood drives at St. Paul’s two years ago.

“We’ve had some successful drives and we’ve had some that weren’t quite so successful,” Drum explained. “I’d previously given as frequently as I can until now. I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I needed blood or not during surgery, and I don’t care. I sincerely believe now more than ever, the life you might be saving through blood donation may be your own.”

Currently, the American Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. As a result, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by more than 40 percent due to challenges like winter weather, seasonal illnesses and the COVID-19 pandemic which made it difficult to reach blood donors with community drives like those hosted by St. Paul’s.

Up until November, Drum was a steady donor and received his One Gallon Donor pin this past summer. He is recovering well from the surgery and looking forward to celebrating another year of life on January 15, while encouraging others to share theirs.   

“Take it from someone who has been there. Never in a million years did I think I would be in a circumstance where it would be my turn. Well, it was my turn. You just never know.”

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church is scheduled to hold its next regularly scheduled blood drive on January 23. You can find a list of upcoming blood drives in your area by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app on your smartphone.

Turning compassion into action to help fellow Sickle Cell Warriors

Passion, Passion, Passion!

Jason Moore exudes passion as he talks about Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo.

The vice president of the non-profit explains that “Sickle Cell Disease is the most commonly inherited disease in the world.”

Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body; in Sickle Cell Disease, the red blood cells are mutated into a crescent or sickle-shaped form, and therefore cannot carry enough oxygen to the tissues and organs of the body – potentially leading to anemia, and tissue and organ damage. This often requires regular blood transfusions to manage extreme pain and life-threatening complications.

Jason explained that having Sickle Cell disease is a lonely life. Each patient presents with different symptoms, requiring treatment to be adjusted accordingly. Jason is happy to have wonderful providers in Buffalo to manage his care.

Jason and and his colleague, Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo president Juanita McClain experienced their journey side-by-side while undergoing treatments at Children’s Hospital, and at specialized camps for children living with Sickle Cell. Their care when they were younger was overseen by social workers. When they “aged out” around 21 years of age, there was no one to guide their care. They came to realize how helpful their social workers were and how much they did for them. Thus, the idea for Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo was born.

Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo programs include Education to the Community, Transitions – a program to assist teens and parents in moving into adult medical care, Care Coordination – assisting adults in finding qualified practitioners, and Support Groups for Warriors and their families.

On Jason’s good days, he states that he accomplishes so much. He’s a Community Health Worker assisting others along their journey, while guiding the Transitions participants. But on other days, he is in pain and exhausted. However, he appreciates what goodness will come about and knows there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Optimistic and passionate!

This Sickle Cell Awareness Month and year-round, you can help support Jason’s work and Sickle Cell patients just like him in your community, by making an appointment to roll up a sleeve and donate lifesaving blood. Visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS or download the free RedCross Blood Donor app to make an appointment nearest you.

 Written by: Ginny Scott, American Red Cross of WNY Communications Volunteer

"Much more than living with Sickle Cell": How a Buffalo teacher's healing journey is helping to heal others

Juanita McClain is many things: a mother, educator, friend, author and a warrior – in every sense of the word.

“I was diagnosed early on. At just a few months old I had my first crisis,” she explained. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital growing up. I went through a lot of the complications. Until my late 20’s, I struggled really bad.”

Sickle Cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the United States, impacting an estimated 100,000 people – most of whom are of African descent. It distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which can lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, anemia and even strokes. Patients may require as many as 100 units of blood per year to manage extreme pain and life-threatening complications.

McClain estimates that until her early 20’s she was in the hospital receiving treatment for Sickle Cell disease at least once or twice a month, every month. In that time, she received multiple blood transfusions, had surgery to remove her gallbladder and suffered the devastating loss of her son during childbirth in the midst of a difficult Sickle Cell crisis. Despite all that, McClain is quick to point out that her diagnosis does not define her.

Instead, it’s all she’s been able to selflessly accomplish in the face of it.

“I was in college, and I was sick and missing school all the time. I started researching more about Sickle Cell and journaling about how I’d like to change my life,” she explains. “And I said I want to share my story with the world, so I wrote Living with and Surviving Sickle Cell Disease. I feel like it’s an autobiography of my life. After the book came out, I felt a relief over my life and things started to look brighter, so I kept going with it.”

McClain is now the proud author of three books on Sickle Cell disease, including a children’s book titled The Monster Within Me: Surviving Sickle Cell Disease; an educational story that serves as both a way for children to learn about Sickle Cell and to inspire them to achieve their dreams.

It was during this time that McClain, armed with the knowledge of the disease and her own triggers, began her advocacy work in the community. In that time, McClain has worked tirelessly to educate the community and her students at Burgard High School in Buffalo on the impact of Sickle Cell and blood donation; and helped to organize blood drives with the Red Cross ofWestern New York where she also serves on the Red Cross Biomed Committee. In 2018, McClain also launched a Sickle Cell warriors support group which has since grown into the non-profit Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo.

“It opens up doors for Sickle Cell warriors who have to get those frequent blood transfusions to be able to get the blood type they need, of their own blood type or race,” she explained. “My background and experience with the disease, I used those to help me grow as a person and to help me get healthier and live with the disease. And when that sparked, it made me want to do more to help others do a turn around in life and look at the disease in a different manner and want to be more than just living with Sickle Cell disease. And here we are today, and we’re doing so much!”

This fall, McClain’s students will help her to organize two blood drives with the Red Cross of Western New York as she also plans a number of community events with Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo, including a walk for Sickle Cell awareness, now in its fifth year, and a holiday event to help support local families impacted by Sickle Cell.

As for the mother of three and her own battle, she has this to say of her journey: “I feel the best that I’ve ever felt in my life these days. Things have improved drastically.”

Cortland Blood Donor Receives Pleasant Surprise as Peanuts™ Contest Winner

When Natalie Travis made plans to donate blood on April 28 at the Cortland (NY) Community blood drive, little did she know the surprise that was eventually in store. 

To be sure, the McGraw, NY resident likely knew of the Peanuts/Snoopy ™ t-shirt incentive for those who showed up to donate, and which had gone viral, but she was not aware of an even bigger incentive that was there as well. 

As part of a national promotion, and thanks to the generosity of Peanuts Worldwide – one of the many partners who offer incentives to support Red Cross blood donations – Natalie emerged as the winner of  the Red Cross’  2023 Sonoma County Trip Giveaway. All who came to give blood in April were automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night trip for two to Sonoma County, California. The Getaway includes flights, hotel, $1,000 gift card and special tours of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Snoopy’s Home Ice, courtesy of Peanuts Worldwide. Natalie and her family departed for their trip on July 5.

Any national contest means that the odds of winning are long, so it is somewhat fitting that Natalie won since her blood type is also rare.  In fact, the desire to know her blood type is what drove her to be a blood donor as a young adult.

"I started giving blood when I was 17,” she said. “I always wanted to know my blood type and I knew if I gave blood I would find out.  I found out that I was type AB-, which is really rare.”

When she found out she had a blood type that was in high demand, Natalie made it a point to be a regular donor.

“I tried to do it a couple of times a year until I had my son.  He’s five now, so it had been that many years until I donated again.”

That April donation in Cortland was the first since her son was born, and it turned out to be a mutually beneficial return….especially when she found out she won the Sonoma trip.

“At first I was really shocked because I was only going to give blood (not knowing about the promotion). Then I started having regular communication with Adam (Adam Turner, a Red Cross staffer) and thought it was really cool.  I told my son, and he was really excited because he has never flown before, and he likes anything with motors.”

So, what would Natalie say to anyone who has not considered donating blood, or might be nervous about the prospect of doing so?

“Any experience that I’ve had, I find the people collecting blood to be really good at what they do. It doesn’t take very long and your blood could help a lot of people.”