From Blood Recipient to Forever Donor

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Aug 30, 2016 | Alyssa Frank | @alyssafrank

Michelle (Andi) Campbell, Customer Resource Specialist, was only 16 years old when she was involved in a terrible car accident. With a broken femur and several severe lacerations, Campbell had a long road to recovery. For more than a year, she received blood transfusions and was in and out of Mayo Clinic Hospital–Rochester, Saint Marys Campus. Once fully recovered, Campbell had one thing on her mind—she wanted to give back to those in need by becoming a lifelong blood donor at Mayo Clinic.

Numerous donated pints later, Campbell is a staunch advocate for the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center in Rochester. Her blood type (O negative) can be transfused to patients of all blood types—something the Blood Donor Center cherishes. With only 6% of people in the U.S. with type O negative blood, it is always in great demand and often in short supply (LiveScience.com).

“Knowing that I have an in-demand blood type coursing through my veins creates an urgency for me when I see those Mayo ‘alerts’ go out that our hospitals and clinics are in need of O neg,” says Campbell. “I especially like that the Blood Donor Center makes it easy to donate, specifically with the mobile blood drives right at my work location,” says Campbell.

She thoughtfully adds, “I know that some people cannot donate—for medical or other reasons, but I am always encouraging people to consider donating if that is an option for them. It’s a great feeling to know that one hour of your time may be saving multiple people’s lives who desperately need that blood—people just like me.”

How to Donate
For more information about donating blood in Olmsted County in Rochester, Minnesota, call (507) 284-4475 or email donateblood@mayo.edu. For more information about the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center, visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/donateblood or like the center on Facebook.