RALEIGH, N.C. — The Blood Connection is urging people to consider donating blood as they start off the new year.
The nonprofit says every two seconds in the U.S., a person is in need of a blood transfusion. Taking the time to donate can literally help save a life.
What You Need To Know
- January is National Blood Donor Month
- You can donate blood every eight weeks
- Every two seconds in the U.S., a person is in need of a blood transfusion
Signing in at The Blood Connection is pretty typical for Lisa Topolosky. “I think it has been since 2018, I’ve been donating every eight weeks, every time they email me,” she said.
The mom of four says the process is quick and easy, and she usually doesn’t come alone. She has recruited a group of friends to tag along, and they all go to lunch afterward.
“It’s heartwarming to see other people go 'thanks for the reminder, I’m due to go and donate' or 'oh, I never thought about this, I should go out and do it.' Everybody has their own unique story about who they are donating for or why they want to donate," Topolosky said.
Topolosky personally learned just how important blood donation is when her 5-year-old daughter Abby was diagnosed with brain cancer.
"She had a year of treatment, which was multiple surgeries, six weeks of daily radiation and then four rounds of inpatient chemo," Topolosky said.
She and her husband founded the nonprofit Abby’s Army to support other families dealing with childhood cancers.
Blood donation is now a regular part of her life as gratitude to those who helped her daughter.
"It was amazing to me, there are people out there donating for her. The least I can do is go out, 30 to 45 minutes, every eight weeks to give back to somebody else going though it," Topolosky said.
Abby is now 12 years old and has been in remission for six years.