Blood Donors Have Heart

Published by Kirby Winn on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 in News Releases

During February's Heart Health Awareness Month, ImpactLife reminds donors that blood transfusions are essential for lifesaving surgery and other interventions for patients with heart disease. Ongoing treatment of heart disease is among the leading reasons blood transfusions are given to patients, particularly those who require surgery or develop anemia.

ImpactLife Heart Health Awareness Toolkit

Renee Brown, a critical care nurse with who works with cardiac patients at Carle Health Methodist Hospital, speaks to the importance of blood transfusions for heart patients.

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Brown adds that it is "amazing to watch" the improvement heart patients can experience after receiving a blood transfusion.

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Donors Make a Difference! Heart Warrior Kieran Meyers

Kieran Meyers was born January 11, 2021 with several congenital heart defects and complex medical conditions, including CHARGE Syndrome. He had more than 10 surgeries during his short life, spent in the care of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis. Kieran passed away peacefully on August 21, 2021 in the loving arms of his mother and father. To celebrate his memory, Kieran’s parents host a blood drive annually on his birthday.

According to his parents, Kieran had his first surgery within 24 hours of birth and a week later he had a second surgery to help prepare for future treatment. “Even outside of surgeries, he was very anemic a lot of the time and needed blood transfusions frequently while he was at the children's hospital,” says Kieran’s mother, Victoria Meyers. His father, Dustin Meyers, expressed their appreciation, saying “We’re so grateful for the people who took some time out of their day and gave a little piece of themselves to give to a stranger, which in this case turned out to be a little baby, to let him live on a little bit longer. Each donation and each transfusion gave us that much little bit more time with him.”

Support heart patients by supporting our region’s blood supply

To find a donor center or mobile blood drive, call (800) 747-5401, or book online at www.bloodcenter.org, or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app). 

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Donor Rewards

All donors will receive a voucher to redeem for their choice of an electronic gift card, a charitable donation, or points to redeem in the Rewards Store. For more information, see www.bloodcenter.org/now.

• DONOR CENTER BONUS: Through February 23, donors who give at donor center locations receive a $20 value or 1,000 points increase. (Values remain the same for donors who give at mobile blood drives.)
• WHOLE BLOOD: $20 gift card or $20 donation or 1,000 points
• DOUBLE RED CELL DONATION: $25 gift card or $25 donation or 1,500 points
• PLATELET APHERESIS OR PLASMA: $30 or $30 donation or 2,000 points

About ImpactLife 

ImpactLife's mission is to save lives by engaging donors, supporting partners, and advancing medicine. Founded in 1974, ImpactLife supplies blood products and services to hundreds of hospitals, emergency services organizations, clinical researchers, and other blood centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The nonprofit blood provider is ranked among the leading 12 blood suppliers in the United States. For more information on current blood inventory levels, our donor promotions, and more, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

For more information on blood inventories and donor promotions, visit www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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Sample images from the ImpactLife Heart Month social media toolkit, available to download at www.bloodcenter.org/heart