Give for Texans – Cliff’s Story
A short drive detours into a medical emergency
Routine trips can be deceptively dangerous.
Nearly 52% of vehicle accidents happen within five miles of home. For Cliff Dillehay, that distance was only two miles.
In late December 2022, Cliff was on Christmas break from his longtime position as an AP History teacher in Dallas and Arlington, but a severe infection was making the holidays far from merry.
Advised to seek immediate medical treatment, Cliff got into his Honda Passport to drive the five miles to the closest urgent care clinic.
“As I was driving there, I had a septic reaction. My temperature spiked and I started getting dizzy,” Cliff said. “I was trying to pull over and that’s the last thing I remember before I passed out.”
When he regained consciousness, Cliff was looking out from his totaled vehicle at the light pole he’d struck head-on.
Blood poured from a deep cut in his face, caused when the air bag “punched me while I had my sunglasses on.”
First responders arrived quickly to transport Cliff to a local hospital.
The seat belt Cliff was wearing that day saved his life, but the saving grace came with complications.
“The first two days in the hospital, they were doing tests to make sure I was OK,” Cliff said. “On the third day, I knew I needed to walk more so I could get out of there, but when I stood, I got really faint.”
Doctors discovered a large amount of blood pooling in Cliff’s abdomen. The seat belt had saved his life, but the impact had torn his spleen.
He received more than two units of blood during an emergency spleen embolization. It was New Year’s Eve. And it was also his birthday.
“It was a harrowing experience and it all happened just like that,” Cliff said, snapping his fingers. “People think of donating blood when there’s an emergency, but the truth is, whether you’re driving to work, taking the kids to school, just getting on the highways, that could be the everyday thing that might lead to you needing blood today.”
Cliff said he feels fortunate blood was available during his time of need, thanks to people’s generosity in donating.
“You can help save lives. It might even be your own.”
For more information on traffic safety and statistics mentioned in this article, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Donate at a Carter BloodCare donor center or mobile blood drive to help local patients.
If you have ever received blood or platelets, your transfusion experience can motivate others to donate. Please Tell Us Your Story.