Platelet donors bring comfort to hospital patients and their families Valerie Ramirez is the mother of Simona and Adeline. She told the American Red Cross, she is grateful for all the donors that donated platelets, allowing her daughter Adeline to continue her fight with Leukemia. “There was a virus that was going around our house and she got very sick,”
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A Lifesaving Awards Story No one expects emergencies to happen – let alone take place during a family celebration. However, in one short moment, the unexpected can happen. In March 2022, Karen Walton was participating in a special birthday dinner with family and friends when she saw one of her family members looking distressed and wheezing at the dinner table.
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Story by: Tiffany Harris, American Red Cross Volunteer As we approach World Sickle Awareness Day on June 19, the American Red Cross continues to support initiatives to raise awareness of this chronic and painful disease. There is no known cure and there is a critical need for increased research. However, the Red Cross supports one of the most critical sickle
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May is Military Appreciation Month. Officially designated by Congress in 1999, it takes place every year throughout the entire month of May. There is a strong American Red Cross commitment to providing services to military communities. This support starts from the first-day oath is taken at enlistment thru maneuvering civilian life as a veteran. Red Cross celebrates those who serve
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National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 1-7 and each year the American Red Cross encourages people to prepare for any possible storms or disasters. Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends November 30. However, emergency preparedness plans can be created and practiced all year long. Here are five easy steps to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season Step
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Laura Fern Jones is a an American Red Cross Youth Volunteer with the Eastern North Carolina Region. For her college essay, she shared her Red Cross volunteer experience. “As a member of the Cape Fear Red Cross Club, I have had the opportunity to work at many blood drives. I have been able to get involved in many steps in
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Carla Williams at age 53 has lived beyond what the average life expectancy of those affected by Sickle Cell. According to the American Society of Hematology life expectancy for Sickle Cell Disease is 42 to 47 years of age. From an early age, Carla knew that she was a sickle cell carrier. Blood is affected and causes extreme pain in
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In a disaster, people often find they are stunned by their circumstances. Adding Disaster Spiritual Care to the other Red Cross disaster services helps families regroup, refocus and transition to the next critical set of decisions they will make. Evelyn says “building client trust” in these events is a primary goal of Disaster Spiritual Care. Evelyn’s favorite pastimes are gardening,
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With the Help of His Family, Military, Veterans, Partners and a Community of Red Cross Volunteers One night in July 2021, SSgt. Sidney Brookman, an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force based in Charleston, SC, heard from her grandmother on the phone. “She told me, ‘You’ll never guess what happened — your uncle’s been identified.’” At first, Brookman was
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Dennis Driscoll, of Fayetteville, NC, sees his role as a volunteer on the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team as an opportunity to give back to the community. Driscoll, who served in the military for 35 years, said: “The Red Cross and the community supported us when we were deployed around the world. Now that I’m home, I try to
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