A Donor's Story: Joseph

May 1, 2023 | Cameron Smith | @cameronsmith

“I was hit by a car going nearly 60 miles per hour,” said Joseph Hoeft, a blood recipient from within the Rochester area. Joseph was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, Saint Marys Campus, after he was struck by a car while he was walking to retrieve a piece of his car that had fallen off. Joseph sustained several serious injuries and required immediate blood transfusions at the hospital.

After recovering from the incident, Joseph chose to give blood so that others could also benefit. “I had received a lot of blood during my time at Mayo and figured it was time to pay back the favor and begin donating at the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program,” he said. Trauma cases like Joseph’s happen every day and show the importance of maintaining a healthy blood supply within the community. Just over 35% of patients who receive a blood product throughout their care while they are at Mayo Clinic are trauma patients just like Joseph.

Joseph said, “I want to continue to pay it forward. I was lucky and want to continue to help others. If someone else can be saved by what I do, I am happy to help.”
The Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program is fortunate to have community members who assist in maintaining a healthy blood supply, which takes around 100 donors each day. When you donate blood with the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center, you are helping your friends, family, and neighbors in need. Joseph’s story is a great reminder of when you give, others live.