Published by Kirby Winn on Saturday, January 25, 2025 in News Releases
Friends and family of Louden Lofgren came out to our Muscatine Donor Center in great numbers, providing an additional 50 donations at just the right time for our region’s blood supply.
![Partners for Life Plaque]()
Today’s event was organized by the family of Louden Lofgren (left) to remember the child they describe as “a loving, energetic, smiling, two-year-old who loved all things in life.” Louden died in 2021 due to bleeding that occurred following a routine medical procedure. Louden’s family organized a blood drive later that year, and since that time the family's efforts have provided more than 600 donations from Muscatine, including dozens of new and first-time blood donors.
Today, we presented the Lofgren family with a plaque that now hangs in the Muscatine Donor Center to commemorate the work they have done in memory of Louden to help save lives in our region. (See photos, attached.)
"The Lofgren family would like to thank everyone who came out to donate in memory of Louden. Tuesday would be Louden's sixth brithdayt and we celebrated him by hosting our annual Love Like Louden Blood Drive," Paula Lofgren, Louden's Grandmother, said. "It means so much to our family that others in the community remember Louden each year by donating blood or sharing about the importance of blood donation. Louden loved hard and we should all love like Louden.
Photos include... [Louden's mom, Maggie Lofgren, with his aunt, Olivia Foglesong, as well as Louden's grandpa, Iowa State Senator Mark Lofgren, and Louden's grandma, Paula Lofgren.]
On Thursday, ImpactLife was called to help support the blood supply in Louisiana after the national Blood Emergency Readiness Corps was activated due to widespread snow and ice in the south that has challenged the ability of blood providers to meet patient needs in the region. This is the third time this year ImpactLife has supported needs outside our region, including shipments to New Orleans on New Year's Day and in connection with the wildfires in southern California.
We are closing in on the end of January’s National Blood Donor Month, and want to invite all eligible donors to help support patient needs in our region, and wherever blood transfusions are needed. To thank donors who give blood during the month of January, ImpactLife is providing all donors a voucher to redeem for the donor's choice of an electronic gift card, bonus points to use in the Donor Rewards Store, or an equivalent donation to food banks in our region. (Learn more at www.bloodcenter.org/now.)
Donors may find a nearby Donor Center or mobile blood drive by calling (800) 747-5401, or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or with the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).