Shortly after becoming a mom, Ashley was rushed to the hospital after experiencing postpartum hemorrhaging. Blood donors saved her life.
There are many ways that cancer affects blood – it can cause internal bleeding and low blood counts. Chemotherapy can also damage bone marrow that produces blood cells. Blood and platelet transfusions are essential for many cancer patients fighting the disease.
A few weeks after giving birth, Ashley started hemorrhaging at home and was rushed to the hospital. She remembers one of the biggest problems at the hospital was finding enough blood for her.
“I’m O negative, and in the ER they were just giving me bags and bags of blood because the blood was just coming out faster than they could get it back in me.”
Ashley spent 16 days in the ICU and wound up needing 19 units of blood, four units of platelets and four units of plasma, along with emergency surgery to remove her uterus, to save her life.
For more than 45 years, the nonprofit South Texas Blood & Tissue Center has focused on a critical purpose: to save and improve lives.
Inspired by a group of physicians, our organization was formed to provide blood to the South Texas region – ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply through proper testing, storage and distribution to hospitals. This essential service allows front-line workers to focus on the direct care of patients, with confidence that this lifesaving resource will be there when it’s needed most.
But we didn’t stop there. Over the years, we’ve evolved as the needs of our patients and hospitals have changed, driven to save lives in as many ways as possible.
We couldn’t do this without donors like you. We understand that the gift of donation is a personal, powerful choice that has the potential to touch a life. Today, we offer many ways to make a difference that include:
Our team has also expanded its programs, partnering with leaders within the healthcare industry to develop a wide range of therapies.
