Blood donors help make organ transplants possible, doctor says
From Vitalant
– Chris Connolly knows he would not be alive today without his organ donor and the dozens of blood donors who helped keep him alive before, during, and after surgery. During Donate Life Month in April, he is partnering with nonprofit Vitalant to inspire others to donate blood.
Five years ago, Connolly was diagnosed with end-stage liver failure caused by Wilson’s disease, a rare genetic disorder. Months of hospitalizations, blood transfusions, and setbacks followed. By January 2022, his family was preparing to say goodbye when a donor liver became available, and he was rushed into surgery. During the 12-hour transplant, doctors transfused approximately 15 units of blood, platelets, and plasma to counteract severe bleeding.
During his recovery, Connolly said both large and small moments — from watching sunsets to attending his son’s college graduation — inspired him to become an advocate.
“Every single day, I wake up with a gratitude that probably most people don’t feel. You know, it’s very rare and very difficult for me to have a hard day,” Connolly said. “I’m still here. The reason is, I need to get this message out.”
Vitalant Chief Medical and Scientific Officer Dr. Ralph Vassallo said blood transfusions are needed for many types of transplant surgeries, most notably liver and heart transplants, which require blood 80-90% of the time.
“People who are willing to donate a kidney or a part of their liver, or the families that honor the organ donation wishes of a loved one, they’re real heroes,” Vassallo said. “But the lifesaving transplant process can’t occur without blood donation. Donated blood must be available for organ transplants, and sometimes, it can be needed in large volumes. So, we need donors to come out and make sure that blood is there to support the community.”
Donors of all types are needed to help patients of all blood types. The need is greatest for type O, the most transfused and most compatible when there is no time to test a patient’s blood type.
Learn more and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant blood donor app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
