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.

Red Cross: Top tips to stay safe this summer

It's officially summer and time to enjoy the great outdoors and warm weather. Whether you’re out on the water, grilling with family and friends or enjoying the great outdoors, the American Red Cross of Western New York has some tips to help keep the whole family safe.

“With what can sometimes be a short summer season, here in Western New York many of us enjoy spending time by the water, grilling with family and friends or enjoying recreational activities like camping and hiking in the great outdoors,” said Nick Bond, Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Western New York. “This summer, and all year round, the Red Cross wants you and your loved ones to be safe no matter what your plans include and offers steps that the whole family can follow to have a safe summer.” 

SWIMMING: Drowning can happen quickly and silently. Unless rescued, it could take as little as 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge. Be “water smart” ─ build confidence in the water by learning to be safer, making good choices, learning to swim and knowing how to handle emergencies.

• Prevent unsupervised access to water, provide constant and active adult supervision, and know how to swim.Never
• Never swim alone – adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child. Swim in an area with lifeguards.
• Designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
• Don’t just pack it, wear your life jacket — always on a boat and if you are in a situation beyond your skill level.
• Reach or throw, don't go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble and tell them to grab on to it. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself.

GRILLING, FOOD SAFETY: Grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year.  Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Never grill indoors or in any enclosed area. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.

• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.
• Wash your hands, utensils and workstation before preparing the food.
• Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.  
• Separate uncooked meats, poultry and seafood from ready-to-eat foods like salads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses and desserts. Use separate plates and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.

CAMPING: Being prepared for emergencies is critical when you’re headed to an area with limited access to phone services and help. 

• If you are heading out to camp, or hike, wear layers of light-weight clothing, sunscreen and a hat.
• Pack a first aid kit with insect repellant, sunscreen and personal medications. A variety of first aid kits and emergency supplies are available at redcrossstore.org.
• Know the level of ability of your group and the environment around you. Plan to use hiking trails that are within your skill level.
• Share your plans, including where you are going and when you should be back, with a family member, neighbor or friend.
• Bring nutritious food items and plenty of water even if you don’t plan to stay overnight.
• Download the FREE Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the FREE Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

 For more summer safety tips on these and other activities, visit redcross.org/summersafety

"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

"We've been together ever since": Red Crossers find love & laughter at local blood drive

When Tony Addotta first signed on to volunteer with the American Red Cross of Western New York, the retired truck driver was looking for something new to utilize his talents. Little did he know that his new volunteer role with the Red Cross would also lead him to the love of his life.

“It was my first volunteer position. Channel 17 had a volunteer fair. I went downtown and there were a lot of different tables. The Red Cross had a sign in table, and I guess five people signed up and I was the only one who showed up the next Monday. Shawn O’Hargan [Regional Market Manager, American Red Cross Blood Services] had her pastries and stuff like that, so I started driving with blood services and you know, it was nice. I was retired, so I was just playing golf and taking naps.”

Seated next to him on a sunny afternoon, Nancy Despard laughed. “Oh, he’s good at naps!”

That was nearly 17 years ago. Roughly one year after Tony signed on as a volunteer, Nancy found herself in a similar position.

“I actually saw it in the paper to volunteer,” she explains. “My parents were actually blood donor ambassadors here and then they moved to Myrtle Beach and did it down there, too. I thought, ‘Oh Mom and Dad did this, so I can do it, too.’  Then we met at a blood drive.”

“Oh, did we?” Tony laughs.

“You came in – he was a usurper. He came in and was supposed to be getting people to sign up to donate double reds and I’m like, why is this guy from Buffalo honing in on our drive? So, he didn’t talk much to me,” Nancy recalls.

With a sly smile, Tony is quick to explain, “I was out in the hallway, recruiting double reds – that was my job!”

Although it would be months before the pair would ultimately meet again, Nancy shares that she knew early on there were sparks.

“I love joking around and stuff and I thought, why couldn’t I have met him before?”

Their shared love of helping others would bring them together again when Tony, ever the gentleman, volunteered to drive a group of Red Crossers from Buffalo to the Greater Rochester chapter to tour the West Henrietta Blood, Platelet and Plasma Donation and Processing Center

“Well, Tony drove the van. And he makes anybody in the backseat wear a seatbelt.”

Tony interrupts with a big laugh, “Well, yeah! Wherever they’re sitting!”

“So, he climbs over the backseat, because I’m behind the driver’s side, to hook up my seatbelt for me.””

“You looked like you needed help!”

“So, we went down to West Henrietta and had lunch, and the group stopped at a rest stop and when I came out of the restroom, and he was waiting out there for me. So, he’s walking me out and he said, that he was membership chairman for the American Legion post and hands me his card for that and says, ‘Here, give me a call.’ Now, I’m like, not young – I don’t if know he’s hitting on me. I call my sister, and asked her, do you think he needs a volunteer there or something? That’s the only thing I could think of that he would need me to call him. Finally, after a few days, I call him and we’re talking and that and I realize, I guess he doesn’t want a volunteer! That was October 2010. We’ve been together ever since.”

In that time, the pair have continued to volunteer with the Red Cross. Nancy now works to schedule volunteers for blood drives across four counties within the Buffalo area. Tony serves as a transportation specialist for biomedical services in the Buffalo district and was one of several volunteers who drove through an historic and deadly blizzard to ensure that blood products were delivered to area hospitals in December, 2022.

“We were just driving,” he explains. “That was [Transportation Specialist] Rachel Elzufon Couch’s leadership. We may have won an award, but it was her leadership that made it happen. We were just doing our job.”

“The first time I was ever driving with him, I looked at all the blood in the back and I realize, we’re saving people’s lives by doing this,” Nancy remarks. “It was really – it really meant something to me that what we’re doing is really saving people’s lives.”

While his fellow volunteers received the Blood Services Hero award at the 2023 Western New York Real Heroes luncheon, Tony accepted the award while awaiting open heart surgery at a local hospital with Nancy at his side. Just a few days prior to the event, doctors discovered a large aneurysm in his aortic valve.

“I was a walk-in. They couldn’t believe I was a walk-in,” he explains. “I only went to the hospital because I couldn’t sleep for two days.”

Nancy immediately takes on a more serious tone: “He is a miracle walking. The doctor said they’d never seen one that big before ever. It could have broken like that.”

But their playful banter quickly returns.

“Well then It’s a good thing you don’t hit me!”

The couple shares that Tony’s surgery and recovery helped put things into perspective, both in their personal lives and their roles at the Red Cross.

“I’m on a crusade,” Tony says. “I stood up one day and said to the other drivers that I know that sometimes you think this might be nothing, but all you guys helped me to survive because the blood had to be there, and it all takes all the people. People can take it for granted and I thanked them all, because as you know, it’s the blood donated today that helps tomorrow. I’m one of those people that you’re donating for. It takes a village.”

That’s the message the couple shares with fellow and prospective volunteers – and even blood donors alike.

“Sometimes at the end of my drives, I will stop into a blood drive and tell a blood donor, ‘I just drove hundreds of miles to say thank you!’ And then it gets everybody laughing. It’s very rewarding. It becomes a place where you go in now and you get to see your friends. I still have my naps!”

Nancy agrees, “I tell volunteers, this is the easiest way that you can save somebody’s life.”

As for their secret to making it work as a couple, Tony says it’s simple:

“You have to have a sense of humor. It keeps things in perspective, I think. She has a good soul and a soft heart.”

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