🩸 Today I donated platelets at the 7th Annual AFE Awareness Blood Drive at Moody High School!

I’m proud to support this event hosted by my former neighbor and fellow donor, Katie Talley Dawson – an incredible AFE survivor and advocate. In July 2018, Katie faced the rare and life‑threatening complication of amniotic fluid embolism during childbirth. Thanks to swift medical intervention and countless blood transfusions, she pulled through – and today she pays it forward by raising awareness and helping save lives

As I arrived to donate platelets a few years ago, I noticed a LifeSouth poster sharing Katie’s story – it was my very first time seeing a recipient that I knew personally being highlighted after 20 years of donating. It hit me deeply: this was my neighbor and I’m grateful to play a small part in supporting her mission.

I became a platelet (apheresis) donor at 18 (1998), and since 2012 I’ve achieved “10‑galloneer” status – not literally ten gallons, but over 80 donations under the new system that went in that year. Apheresis donations separate platelets and return other components, so that you can give every week, making them a true lifeline for patients battling cancer, trauma, and rare complications like AFE.

Most of my donations are triple platelet donations, delivering the equivalent of three standard therapeutic doses in one visit – enough for multiple patients. I love knowing that I can donate more often and help more people than with traditional whole blood donation.

Over the years I’ve donated regularly at the Oxmoor Road LifeSouth center – and I’m thrilled that LifeSouth has opened a new donor center in Trussville! Looking forward to scheduling my next appointment much closer to home.

How you can help:
• Donate platelets or whole blood at your local LifeSouth – especially if you’re type O, A, B, or AB.
• Support the AFE Foundation and Katie’s mission to raise awareness and spark research
• If you’re local, consider joining us at next year’s drive – because every donation really does save a life.

🙏 Thank you, Katie, for your courage and heart – and thank you LifeSouth for all you do. One donation can mean everything.

Let’s keep giving – and keep saving.

#AFEAwareness #EndAFE #DonateBlood #PlateletDonor #LifeSouth #10GallonClub #GiveBloodGiveLife