Spring 2017A quarterly publication celebrating life through blood donation

Twentyhoursintolabor,ErinFers(pronouncedFears),ofMarshfield,learnedherbabywaslargeenoughthatanaturaldeliverywasnolongeranoption.ShewouldneedtoundergoanemergencyCesareansection.AlongwithfeelingjoywhensheandChanceLaffertywelcomedLillianintotheworldonOctober5,2010,Erinfeltincrediblyweak.Butsincethiswasherfirstbaby,herinitialthoughtwastoassumethiswasnormal.

Shedidrealizeshehadlostbloodduringsurgery.“Iwasalldruggedup,butIremembertherewasalotofbloodonthedeliveryroomfloor.Oncethebabywasout,theypulledthecoverdownandIlookedaround.Irememberbloodbeingalloverthedoctorandeverywhere.TheysaidIlostmorethanhalfoftheamountofbloodinmybody,”Erinsaid. Aftermakingthemovefromthedeliveryroomtoahospitalroom,Erinwasenjoyinggettingtoknowherbaby.Shesatinachair,feedingherdaughter,whilecontinuingtogrowweaker.Sheneededhelptakingcareofthebaby,anddidn’thavetheenergytoeat. “Anursesaid,‘Youcan’tkeepfeedingher.It’smakingyouweak.’Iwasn’tinmyroomforverylongbeforetheysaidIneededabloodtransfusion.”Erinrespondedbysayingshedidn’treallywanttogetatransfusion.“Idon’t

knowwhyIsaiddidn’twantto.IthinkIwasjustscared.” AlsoscaredatthispointwasErin’smother,AprilFers.“Erinhadbecomesopaleandsoweakthatshecouldn’tevenliftherarm.Shebarelyhadtheenergytotalk,”Aprilsaid.“Iwassoworriedthatsomethingwasgoingtohappentoher.Shehadjusthadthislittlebabywhoneededher.” Erin,whoseironhadalwaysbeentoolowforhertodonateatMarshfieldHighSchoolblooddrives,receivedtwobloodtransfusionsbeforeleavingMercyHospitalinSpringfield.“Withthesecondone,Istartedtogetmycolorbackandstartedfeelingalittlebitofdifference,”Erinsaid.Ittookaboutaweekforhertobeginfeelinglikeherenergylevelwasreturning. Lillianisnowsixyearsold,attendskindergarten,andisatalentedartist.ErinandChance’sfamilygrewthreeyearsagowiththeadditionofasonnamedKairo.“IwasterrifiedthesecondtimebecauseIhadsomanyissuesthefirsttime,”ErinsaidoffacinganotherC-section.

EmergencyC-sectionLeadstoBloodTransfusions

The birth of her first child led to Erin Fers needing a blood transfusion.

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A Cesarean birth (or C-section) is the delivery of a baby through incisions made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus.American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists

1 to 6 women per 100 require a blood transfusion when delivering via C-section.American Pregnancy Association 32% of all U.S. deliveries were by Cesarean in 2015 (the most recent data available).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics Mothers within the age group of 18 to 24 had a C-section rate of 26.8% of all U.S. deliveries from 2010-2015.Blue Cross Blue Shield

FAST FACTS:

Lookingforawaytohelpboostyourblooddrive’sattendance?Sharethedetails on Facebook! IfyourorganizationhasanofficialFacebookpage,getintouchwiththepersoninchargeofmaintainingthatpageacoupleofweeksbeforeyourblooddrive.Askwhatheorsheneedsforyoutoprovide(usuallythetextthatyouwouldliketoshareanda.jpgimageofyourblooddriveposter). ShareyourblooddriveinformationonFacebookaweekbeforeitisscheduled(“It’saweekfromtoday!”),thedaybeforeithappens(“We’llseeyoutomorrow!”),andthedayoftheevent(“Todayisblooddriveday!”). Besuretotagussowe’llseethepostandshareit.Tagusbytyping @OzarksBloodwhenuploadingtheposttoFacebook. Ifyourblooddriveisopentothepublic,sharethatinformationonyourpostsothatotherswillfeelwelcometostopbyanddonate.Includealinktosignupsointerestedpartiescanmakeanappointmenttogiveblood. Onthedayofyourevent,sharephotosofdonors,alongwithareminderoftheblooddrive’slocationandhours.Evenifyourblooddriveisnotopentothepublic,thisisagreatwaytoleteveryoneknowhowmuchyourorganizationcaresaboutthecommunity. Needhelpwritingablurbtoshare?We’dbehappytohelp!GetintouchwithJillatslackj@cbco.org.SeeyouonFacebook!

SocialMediaTip: Share Your Upcoming Blood Drive on Facebook

HighSchoolLeadershipWorkshops

Ifyou’reoneofourhighschoolchairpersons,you’llsoonreceiveanemailwithdetailstoregisteryourstudentsforahalf-dayLeadershipWorkshopcomingupinSeptember.PleasebesuretoregisterNOW,beforetheendoftheschoolyear,tomakesureregistrationdoesnotslipyourmindoversummerbreak.Ifyou’reahighschoolstudent,besuretoremindyoursponsortoregisteryourgroupsoyou’llbepartofthefun! Studentswilllearnskillsthattheywillusethroughouttheireducationsandevenintotheircareers.Skillssuchasplanning,goal-setting,recruiting,teamwork,philanthropy,communication,andmarketing.Thestudentgroupswhoattendourworkshopsbecomethemostsuccessfulintermsofmeetingtheirdonationgoals,seeingfirst-timeblooddonors,andhavingapositiveexperience.

We look forward to seeing you at one of these CBCO High School Leadership Workshops:

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017–Joplin,MO,atFreemanBusinessCenterWednesday, Sept. 13, 2017–Lebanon,MO,atLebanon-LacledeCountyLibraryThursday, Sept. 14, 2017–Bentonville,AR,atNWACCTuesday, Sept. 19, 2017–Springfield,MO,atCBCOWednesday, Sept. 20, 2017–Springfield,MO,atCBCOThursday, Sept. 21, 2017–MountainGrove,MO,atFirstFreewillBaptistChurch

HighSchoolLeadershipWorkshops

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us today!

Saturday, May 20StomptheBluesOutofHomelessnessconcertinThomsonDonorCenterparkinglot.Ourdonorcenterwillbeopenfrom7:00a.m.to12:00p.m.

Friday, May 26HolidayHeroBloodDrive–Firstof2sign-upopportunities.Donorcentersonly.Committo3donationsduringspecificdates.Completeall3andget3,000bonusLifePoints.

Monday, May 29MemorialDay–AllCBCOdonorcentersandmobileblooddriveswillbeclosed.

Thursday, June 1 – Monday, July 31 It’sSummerT-shirtseason!ParticipantsatallCBCOdonorcentersandmobileblooddrivesreceiveCBCO’slimitededitionSummerT-shirt.

Tuesday, June 6BleedBlue–Our10thannualBleedBlueblooddriveatourBentonvilleandSpringdaledonorcenters,withprizes,freebaseballparkfood,andArkansasNaturalsT-shirts.

Promotions & EventsMonday, June 12 – Sunday, July 9SaluteaVeteranblooddriveatallCBCOdonorcentersandmobileblooddrives.FreesummerT-shirtforallparticipants.

Thursday, June 29 & Friday, June 30HolidayHeroBloodDrive–Secondof2sign-upopportunities.Donorcentersonly.Committo3donationsduringspecificdates.Completeall3andget3,000bonusLifePoints.

Monday, July 3MovieManiaBloodDrive–Participantsreceive1Fandangomovieticket.Donorcentersonly.

Tuesday, July 4AlldonorcentersandmobileblooddrivesareclosedtoobserveIndependenceDay.

Monday, July 10 – Tuesday, July 1113thannualBleedRedblooddriveatSpringfieldandJoplindonorcenters.Prizes,freebaseballpark food, and freeSpringfieldCardinalsT-shirtforallparticipants.

COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER OF THE OZARKS

BLOOD DRIVEBLOOD DRIVE

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TakeaStandAgainstFraud Gotconfidentialdocuments?We’vegotawaytohelpyousafelygetridofthem. TheparkinglotofCBCO’sThomsonDonorCenter,220W.PlainviewRoad,inSpringfield,willbethesettingfortheAARPShredFest.AARP,CBCO,andCUCommunityCreditUnionhavepartneredtoofferthisfreeservicefrom9:00a.m.to12:00p.m.Saturday,April29. Gatheryoursensitivedocumentsthatneedtobeshredded(uptotwobagsorboxespervehicle),andeachattendeewillreceiveacouponforafree“WakeUpandBeAwesome”traveltumbler.Toredeemyourcoupon,donatebloodthatsameday.Ourdonorcenterwillbeopen7:00a.m.to1:00p.m.Theshreddingtruckwillsafelyandquicklyshredyoursensitivedocumentswhenyoudropthemoff.Commonlytargeteddocumentsincludegovernmentdocumentswithpersonalinformation,creditcardorbankingstatements,andmedicalbills. Formoreinformationaboutthisevent,emailaarpmo@aarp.org.

CirculatorispublishedquarterlybyCommunityBloodCenteroftheOzarksandisavailableuponrequest.

Four convenient CBCODonor Centers near you!

SpringfieldThomson Center - 220 W. Plainview

(417) 227-5000 or 800-280-5337Monday through Friday - 7 am to 7 pm

Saturday - 7 am to 1 pm Sunday - 9 am - 3 pm

Joplin - Northpark Mall101 N. Range Line Rd.

(417) 626-8323 or 866-401-5143Monday through Friday - 11 am to 6 pm

Springdale - 3503 S. Thompson(479) 927-1200 or 866-401-5144

Monday through Thursday - 11 am to 6 pmFriday - 8 am to 2 pm

Bentonville - 1400 SE Walton Blvd. (479) 464-2506

Monday through Thursday - 11 am to 6 pmFriday - 8 am to 2 pm

Our mission is to provide a quality blood supply, in a timely manner, at the lowest reasonable fee, while remaining accountable to the local community, blood donors, and health care providers.

PatientswhoneedbloodandplateletsfromCBCOdonorscomeinallshapes,sizes,andages.Theyhavemanytypesofillnessesandinjuries,aswell.Twoverydifferentpatientsrecentlyneededbloodandplateletstocombatthesamedisease. OurFall2016issueofCirculator(clickHERE)featuredthestoryofLauraWinstead,aSpringfield,MO,motheroftwowhosurvivedAcuteLymphoblasticLeukemia.Thisdisease,whichusuallyaffectschildren,tookLauradowna32-monthcourseoftreatmentbeforeshewasdeclaredtobeinremission.PartofthattreatmentinvolvedreceivingbloodandplateletsfromCBCOdonors.“Notonlydoyourecognizetheneed,butyoutakethetimeoutofyourbusyscheduletodosomethingaboutit,”LaurasaidassheexpressedappreciationforCBCOdonors. WerecentlymetanotherALLsurvivor,MiaDalton.Miawasdiagnosedpriortoherthirdbirthday.TheDaltonfamily,ofKirbyville,MO,celebratedMiagoingintoremissionafterjust30daysoftreatment,butlearnedshefacedtwoyearsofchemotherapytopreventthecancerfromreturning. LikeLauraWinstead,Mianeededbloodandplatelettransfusions,manyofwhichcamefromCBCOdonors.AsofMarch2017,Miahadreceived19bloodtransfusionsand25platelettransfusions. MiaturnedfourinMarchand,afteraroughpatchthatrequiredhospitalization,sheisnowinmaintenance,continuingoralchemotherapy,takingonphysicaltherapy,andpreparingforpreschool.HerfamilyanticipatestreatmentendingaroundJuly2018.“Peopledon’trealizethatshedependsonthosedonationstosurvive,”saidJessicaDalton,Mia’smother.“Shewouldhavediedwithoutthem.” Thankyou,CBCOdonors,formakingadifferenceinthelivesofLaura,Mia,andcountlessotherpatientsinthe40hospitalsweserveinsouthwestMissouri,northwestArkansas,andsoutheastKansas.Yourdonationsmeantheworldtothesepatientsandtheirfamilies.

TwoALLSurvivorsReceiveBlood,PlateletsfromCBCODonors

However, there were no complications.“Kai’sbirthwassupereasy,”shesaid. AlthoughErinhadbeenunabletodonateblood in the past, the blood was there when she neededitthankstogenerousCBCOdonors.“Noteveryonecangiveblood.Likeme,forexample.Buttherearepeople,likeme,whoneedit.Whenyou’reinthatsituation,you’rethankfulthatsomebodydidgiveblood,”shesaid. Erin,now24,isworkingongeneraleducationrequirementsatOzarksTechnicalCommunityCollegewithagoalofanursingdegree,andisanassistantmanageratStarbucksonOTC’sSpringfieldcampus.Sheislookingforwardtoacareerinthehealthcarefieldsothatshecanhelpothers. Oneofthehappiestdaysofherlifecamewaytooclosetobeingthelastdayofherlife.“Icouldhavediedthatday,”Erinsaid.“IfIwouldn’thavereceivedblood,whoknows?I’msuperthankfultothedonors,becauseitsavedmylife.”

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Blood Transfusion Helps First-Time Mother