DAGSBORO, Del. - The first Blood Bank of Delmarva Donor Center opened in Sussex County on Tuesday. Town leaders, Sussex County EMS, and guests from Beebe Healthcare and TidalHealth were there to help with the kick off.
The blood bank says this new center is important for both the current blood shortage and the lives that have been saved by donations. Senior Executive Director Patty Killeen says the blood bank saw the need for a permanent donor center in Dagsboro.
This new center has more than 65 appointments available everyday. Killeen says 1,800 blood and platelet donors are needed every week to treat patients and save lives.
"He told us I have a helicopter on the way for you. You have no blood in your body. I'm surprised you're even alive,” Ryan P., recalls a doctor telling him. Ryan was a healthy 25-year-old until last summer.
"I never thought I'd be a no blood guy,” he said.
He was diagnosed with idiopathic aplastic anemia, which he says is failure of the bone marrow for no reason.
"I took over 200 red blood cell transfusions and over 200 platelets transfusions to keep me alive,” said Ryan.
Three-year-old Maverick is a happy, lively baby because of blood donations.
"Almost three years ago I delivered triplets at 25 weeks, and our son Maverick, who is our only surviving son, needed eight blood transfusions," said Shane Simmons.
Lives that have been saved and life savers like Thomas Glenn, who has donated five gallons of blood, we’re all at the grand opening of the Dagsboro Donor Center.
The blood bank’s 5th donor center is opening in the middle of a blood emergency.
"We like to have seven days worth of inventory on our shelf. We opened up this morning with 2.3 days worth,” said Killeen.
350 to 380 donations are needed a day to treat a wide variety of patients in Delmarva's healthcare system.
"As the county gets busier and there's more accidents, it’s so important to have access to blood right here in our county,” said Dr. David Tam, President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare.
Because of advances in bone marrow transplant that allow a half match to donate, Ryan's brother was able to save him.
"I’m one of 22 people in the world that received this experimental transplant from Johns Hopkins and Dr. Amy DeZern and her oncology team out there, and so far they have not had any relapses so I'm hoping it stays that way so I can continue to enjoy my life,” said Ryan.
Senator Tom Carper will also be going to the donation center on Friday to donate.
If Maverick or Ryan's story inspired you to donate click here to make an appointment.