Shining a light on blood donors who make all the difference to a life
Every year, 33-year-old Charles depends on dozens of strangers to donate blood—and you could be one of them.
Canadian Blood Services is shining a light on hundreds of people who continue to roll up their sleeves and donate to help save a stranger’s life, like Charles.
Toronto, Ont., resident Charles Ofori-Attah, an avid foodie and lover of small concerts, spent most of his childhood within the walls of a hospital.
Charles was just six months old when he was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that affects the shape of red blood cells and results in extreme pain crises and potential organ damage.
"I do have some very early memories of my parents telling me how to stay cautious," said Ofori-Attah. "Although I did like to play outside, play hockey, and be a regular kid, there were certain things I couldn't do."
While he looked like a carefree child on the outside, his childhood was far from typical.
Charles was just six-months-old when he was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. (Submitted)
Between the ages of eight and sixteen, Charles spent more time at the hospital than at home and school combined. He missed out on summer camps, movie nights with friends, and a regular social life due to treatment requirements and his increased risk for pneumonia.
"I just remember wanting to be normal," Ofori-Attah explained.
Treatment began with regular blood transfusions and later focused on exchange transfusions every six weeks. An exchange transfusion is a process in which a person's blood is slowly removed and then replaced with blood that was donated by someone else. It is a potentially life-saving treatment that involves 10–11 units of blood per transfusion, explained Ofori-Attah.
To date, he has had over 100 blood replacement procedures, and he will need hundreds more throughout his lifetime, but he is not alone in that need.
Each blood replacement procedure is made possible thanks to the kindness of people who donate through Canadian Blood Services.
Over 80 people a year—complete strangers—help keep Ofori-Attah alive by donating blood at Canadian Blood Services.
"To the 100th-time donor and to the first-time donor, it is a heartfelt thank you," he said. "There were definitely times in my life, when I didn't know that I could live on my own; I didn't know that I would be able to live without constant hospitalization. Now I'm able to. The normalcy and the regular earnestness of life—having a healthy body and a healthy mind—is something that I am very appreciative of because for so many years I didn't have it."
With the support of donors, Canadian Blood Services issued close to a million blood components to over 700 hospitals across Canada in 2022, and the demand for donors continues to grow.
Every year, 33-year-old Charles Ofori-Attah (left) depends on dozens of strangers to donate blood. (The Weather Network)
SEE ALSO: How plasma donations helped save the life of a plasma nurse
Donating blood or plasma is a powerful way to make a meaningful human connection and give back to your community, explained Kristie Upton, Regional Program Manager at Canadian Blood Services.
"The need for blood is constant," said Upton. "Right now we have a small number of regular donors who are sustaining the Canadian Blood Services blood supply for the nation. Every year we need 100,000 new donors to start donating to make sure that that donor base is strong."
Canadian Blood Services is shining a light on the need for new blood and plasma donors to help strengthen Canada’s Lifeline.
According to Canadian Blood Services, 1 in 2 Canadians are eligible to donate blood but only 1 in 81 do. (Getty Images/Stock photo)
According to Canadian Blood Services, 1 in 2 Canadians are eligible to donate blood, but only 1 in 81 do. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation, lives and routines were disrupted, causing many people to stop donating blood and plasma regularly, explained Upton.
"Since the start of COVID-19, we [Canadian Blood Services] have lost 31,000 regular donors, which means we have the smallest donor base in decades that's sustaining the entire blood supply right now," explained Upton.
As of June 2023, Canadian Blood Services is facing the lowest level of donor participation in decades.
The small act of rolling up your sleeves and donating blood doesn’t just make a difference; it makes all the difference in the lives of patients who need it most.
Canadian Blood Services is calling on new donors to ensure the best possible treatment and care are given to patients from all communities. People with less common blood types depend on each other.
"When you are able to give the patient a match with someone who has the same or similar ethnic background, that reduces the risk of any reaction... And right now, we're working on growing the diversity in our donor base to ensure that all patients have what they need, even for rare blood," explained Upton.
Blood from donors of the same or similar racial or ethnic background is less likely to cause complications for patients like Ofori-Attah, who need regular transfusions, Upton continued.
The goal of sharing Ofori-Attah's story is not only to shine a light on the need for new donors; it is also a thank-you letter to loyal donors who continue to save the lives of strangers every single day through donations.
"If anyone is listening to this... and they're on the fence and they're scared of needles, just know I can go story-for-story with you about being poked. I can completely understand your reservations. But I would say that we need people like you to keep this system going. It's immeasurable, really," added Ofori-Attah.
He continued, "Canadian Blood Services has impacted my life for the better, not just from a health perspective, but from the relationships I've built and the friends I've made... Canadian Blood Services’ family and the staff are just the best people in the whole world."
There are many ways to donate through Canadian Blood Services and help patients like Ofori-Attah live healthy and happy lives.
Whether you donate this week or next month, your contribution will ensure patients receive life-saving blood and blood products where and when they need them. You can make a lasting impact on the lives of others. If you’re already a donor or aren’t able to donate, you can still make a difference by encouraging others to book an appointment. It takes donors of all kinds to keep Canada’s Lifeline strong. You can register your intent to donate your organs, volunteer your time, or make a financial contribution. If you are between 17 and 35, you may be eligible to register as a stem cell donor. Click here to learn more.