She didn’t expect to be the next in her family to need a transfusion
She didn’t expect to be the next in her family to need a transfusion
Marian Ingram knows that donating blood and needing blood can be all relative, sometimes literally.
“My grandfather had leukemia and needed blood. My father had kidney cancer and needed blood. My aunt had pancreatic cancer and needed blood. My mother had heart issues and needed blood,” she said. “I decided the best way to help those who had helped my family was to donate myself.”
But Marian never expected to be the next in her family to need blood.
A consistent Carter BloodCare donor, the Lewisville school teacher recalled an instance when she was ready to donate, but was deferred due to a low hemoglobin level, or iron deficiency.
She planned to donate later when her hemoglobin levels improved, but began experiencing symptoms in the meantime.
“I started getting dizzy and really tired, but I thought it was just stress and stuffed-up sinuses,” Marian said. “Soon I was falling asleep in the afternoons and unable to walk a few feet without needing to stop to catch my breath and gain my balance.”
She went to her doctor for a check-up and blood work. Some time later, Marian was surprised when a physician’s assistant called and instructed her to head to the ER immediately.
“My hemoglobin levels were really low and I needed a blood transfusion,” Marian recalled being told. “To say I wasn’t scared or nervous when I got the news would be a bald-faced lie. It frightened me tremendously.”
Her students also were concerned when she had to unexpectedly leave class. However, the experience taught a positive lesson.
“At the next blood drive, it really encouraged many of them to donate,” Marian said.
She soon recovered and returned to the classroom, because, she said, “Thankfully, someone had given blood that I could use.”
And, with renewed and healthy hemoglobin levels, Marian returned to sharing the gift of blood donation.
“I’m now able to go back to donating,” she said, “as a thanks to the people who helped my family and the person who helped me.”
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Did you know?
Boosting your hemoglobin is as simple as eating delicious iron-rich foods. Check out the best sources of iron in your diet.
You can help local patients like Marian by donating this week at your neighborhood Carter BloodCare donor center or mobile blood drive.
And, if you’ve ever received blood or platelets, your patient experience can motivate others to donate and save more lives. It’s easy but powerful; just Tell Us Your Story.