At the beginning of May 2007, at the age of 35, I almost died (my heart was close to stopping) due to massive blood loss. I was taken to the ER and had to have a life saving blood transfusion. I was told that I had large fibroids that caused this blood loss and the extreme pain I was having. May 21, 2007, I had surgery to remove them. During the surgery the doctor noticed something strange. The so-called fibroids were spreading and were attached to my organs, which is something they don’t do. The doctor cut out a piece of my bladder and left kidney and sent it away for testing (my 2 hour surgery turned into 4 ½ hours). I had to have another blood transfusion to keep me alive. A week and a half later I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Anyone that donates blood is a Hero and a Life Saver! That simple act of one person saved my life and allowed my daughter to keep her mom. Donating blood saves lives. Simple statement, but powerful and true. I am a living witness.