North Texas advocate Latorra Garland chosen for National Blood Donation Hall of Fame

Fresenius Kabi honors new inductees for their civic support of blood donation programs

The following press release is provided courtesy of Fresenius Kabi.

LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (Oct. 22, 2025) – Fresenius Kabi, part of the global healthcare company Fresenius, and a leading provider of essential medicines and medical technologies, announced today the induction of 13 new honorees into the National Blood Donation Hall of Fame.

Nominated by blood centers across the United States, the honorees have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to donating blood or for inspiring others to give. Each inductee has made a remarkable contribution to the nation’s blood supply, whether through a lifetime of donations or through advocacy that has motivated entire communities to give.

“Blood donation is one of the most selfless gifts a person can give, and each of this year’s inductees embodies that spirit of generosity,” said Eddie Kubo, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, MedTech Division, Fresenius Kabi North America. “Through their commitment and advocacy, they have helped ensure a steady and safe blood supply for patients in need, and we are proud to honor their contributions.”

With this year’s honorees, more than 300 individuals have been inducted into the Fresenius Kabi National Blood Donation Hall of Fame during the past 27 years. The program celebrates the stories of blood donors nationwide and shines a spotlight on the vital role blood donation plays in saving lives.

The 2025 inductees and their nominating blood centers are:

• Latorra Garland – Carter BloodCare, Bedford, Texas
• Daniel Rogers – OneBlood, Tampa, Fla.
• Carol Weaver – Versiti Blood Center of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.
• James E. Swoboda Sr. – American Red Cross, West Omaha, Neb.
• Tammy Vickers and Traci Harper – OneBlood, Douglas, Ga.
• Brenna Teerlinck – ImpactLife, Davenport, Iowa
• Mindy Sue Jones – Versiti Blood Center of Ohio, Dayton, Ohio
• Gerald H. Yamane – Blood Bank of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Jeremy Hurley – Our Blood Institute, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Sarah Fuller – Vitalant, Denver, Colo.
• Blake Laverdiere – Rhode Island Blood Center, Providence, R.I.
• Kristine Ouimet – American Red Cross, Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Each year, the National Blood Donation Hall of Fame honorees are featured in a commemorative donation interval calendar shared with blood centers nationwide, celebrating their inspiring stories and contributions.

Latorra’s story: Honoring Jacob by supporting others

For North Texas inductee Latorra Garland, the path to advocating for lifesaving blood donations started with a trip to the doctor for her son, Jacob.

When her healthy, happy 13-year-old son complained of persistent knee pain, Latorra scheduled a medical checkup for Jacob.

It was the beginning of an unexpected and difficult journey: Jacob was diagnosed with progressive bone cancer.

After his first round of chemotherapy, just days after his diagnosis, Jacob began to have respiratory distress. He was rushed to the ICU, where he received multiple blood transfusions. Jacob passed away only a few short months later.

Latorra said, “Every transfusion gave us another day to make memories—to spend more time with Jacob and see his beautiful, contagious smiles.”

In Jacob’s memory, Latorra became a force-of-nature champion for blood donation, especially when it comes to the youngest in need.

“I will always be an advocate and will donate blood as long as I am able. Jacob never gave up and neither will I,” she said.

In 2022, Latorra founded Jacob Way, a children’s cancer charity that helps families like hers focus on healing experiences.

“No one should navigate this alone,” Latorra said. “Together, we can provide hope and strength.”

To learn more about the 2025 inductees, visit the National Blood Donation Hall of Fame.

About Fresenius Kabi

As a global healthcare company, Fresenius Kabi is Committed to Life. The company’s products, technologies, and services are used for the therapy and care of patients with critical and chronic conditions. With more than 41,000 employees and present in more than 100 countries, Fresenius Kabi’s expansive product portfolio focuses on providing access to high-quality and lifesaving medicines and technologies.

In Biopharma, Fresenius Kabi offers cutting-edge biosimilars for autoimmune diseases and oncology. With leading market positions in Clinical Nutrition, a broad portfolio of enteral and parenteral products makes a distinct difference in patients’ nutritional status. In MedTech, the company provides vital infusion pumps, cell and gene therapy devices, disposables, and more. Fresenius Kabi is a global leader in supplying blood collection bags and devices, supporting blood banks and health care facilities worldwide. The company’s I.V. Generics and Fluids for infusion therapy help save millions of lives every year, in emergency medicine, surgery, oncology, and intensive care.

Fresenius Kabi takes a holistic approach to health care and uniquely combines experience, expertise, innovation, and dedication – making a difference in the lives of 450 million patients annually.  With the #FutureFresenius strategy, the company is developing, producing, and selling new products and technologies and aspires to expand its position as a leading global provider of therapies, improve patient care, generate sustainable value for stakeholders – shaping the future of healthcare.

Fresenius Kabi is part of the Fresenius Group, founded in 1912, along with Helios and Quirónsalud. As ONE team, the companies in the Fresenius Group are committed to providing lifesaving and life-changing healthcare solutions on a global scale.

For more information, please visit www.fresenius-kabi.com/us.