A Patient's Story: The Böettner family

Nov 1, 2023 | Cameron Smith | @cameronsmith

Seventeen years ago, blood products became an integral part of the Böettner family’s lives when their son Asher was born at 25 weeks, weighing just 1 pound. Asher was a recipient of four units of platelets and nine red cell blood transfusions in the 14 weeks he spent in Mayo Clinic’s neonatal intensive care unit. “He is now perfectly healthy, happy, and blessed,” said Asher’s dad, Seth. Asher’s birth also turned into a six-week hospitalization for his mother, Lori.

Lori had survived a blood clot in her liver but thankfully was able to recover with daily transfusions of platelets. Lori was diagnosed with anti-phospholipids syndrome (APS), which can cause a weakened immune system, increased risk of blood clots, and issues with childbirth. In both July of 2021 and 2022, Lori had brain bleeds and was given transfusions to recover. She now receives regular blood product transfusions to reduce the negative effects of APS.

After seeing firsthand the lifesaving qualities of these platelets for both his son and wife, Seth signed up to be a donor. Seth said, “My family is alive because of Mayo’s state-of-the-art technology and world-class care. I gladly contribute by donating ample blood annually. I value blood donation because it easily saves lives. I also donate in honor of my parents’ legacy as we work to find a cure to the blood cancers they battled.” The Böettner family is extremely grateful for our community’s commitment to saving lives through blood donation.