A Recipient Story: Shay

In April 2023, Shay, a nurse at Mayo Clinic, welcomed her first son, Eli. Hours after returning to her room, Shay began to feel intense abdominal pain and discomfort. "I was having pain in my chest and abdomen, and I could tell something was not right," she recalls.

Doctors soon discovered that Shay was experiencing internal bleeding following Eli's delivery. As the situation grew urgent, her care team made the swift decision to start transfusing blood products. Shay was rushed to surgery, where they found four liters of blood in her abdomen. In total, she received six units of blood to save her life.

"As a nurse, I know firsthand how important blood products are, but I never thought I would need them myself," Shay shares. "My providers and everyone involved were so kind and compassionate throughout this scary process."

Shay's connection to blood donation runs even deeper. Her husband, Adam, works in the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center. "It really brought everything full circle for me. I am so thankful for the donors who take their time to give these lifesaving products for patients like me, as well as the staff who works diligently to ensure these products are readily available."

There is no alternative to blood donation. It takes a whole community—donors, collection staff, and medical teams—to save lives. Every piece of the donation process has lifesaving qualities, and Mayo Clinic is fortunate to have so many dedicated people putting patients first

Shay's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of blood donation and the gratitude we owe to those who give the gift of life.