Heart Beat Your Community Blood Center Newsletter | Summer 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: In Loving Memory of Lupe Cervantes .......................... Pg. 5 Honoring Southern Colorado Supporters ................................. Pg. 11 Link Up Your Passion to Save Lives ............................. Pg. 14 Dallas Armstrong Hundreds of blood donors helped save her life.................Pg. 2 Dallas Armstrong with husband William (Billy) Coon at a festival in Estes Park, Colo.
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Heart BeatYour Community Blood Center Newsletter | Summer 2011
IN THIS ISSUE:In Loving Memory of Lupe Cervantes ..........................Pg. 5
Link Up Your Passion to Save Lives .............................Pg. 14
Dallas ArmstrongHundreds of blood donors
helped save her life .................Pg. 2
Dallas Armstrong with husband William (Billy) Coon at a festival
in Estes Park, Colo.
2
As many families gathered to celebrate the holiday season, Estes Park resident and Otis, Colo. native, Dallas Armstrong was fighting for her life. After several days of feeling ill and weak Dallas saw her doctor who diagnosed her with a rare blood disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, otherwise known as TTP. Treatment for this fairly uncommon and potentially deadly condition is aggressive so doctors quickly admitted Dallas to Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, Colo. on Dec. 17, 2010 – a hospital stay that extended nearly four months.
TTP, which develops due to the absence or lack of certain protein activity in a patient’s blood, causes blood clots to form in the small blood vessels throughout the body and leads to a low platelet count. Physicians are using plasma exchanges to remove the abnormal antibody from the blood and replace the missing enzyme, a treatment which has significantly improved the outcome of this condition. Although Dallas is still unclear on the cause and details of her illness, she knows one thing for certain: hundreds of blood donors helped save her life.
During her stay at Good Samaritan Medical Center, Dallas endured daily plasma exchanges receiving as many as 11 to 18 plasma units each day. Dallas estimates that between Dec. 17, 2010 and Jan. 31, 2011 she received approximately 30 gallons or 240 units of the liquid
gold. Dallas said she submitted to more exchanges in February and March as well as the occasional transfusion of red blood cells to assist her recovery.
Family and friends across the Eastern Plains of Colorado, including residents of her hometown of Otis, rallied this winter and spring to help replenish the blood products Dallas used. Dallas believes her plight opened a lot of eyes to the constant need for blood donations of all types from whole blood to platelet to plasma donations.
Your contributions to the community blood supply help patients like Dallas every day. Your blood type holds the key to supporting patients. For example, donors possessing AB blood are ideal candidates to help patients by giving plasma donations, while A+ and B+ donors are best suited to platelet and/or plasma donations. Similarly, Rh negative donors such as O-, A- and B- donors are most often recruited to give whole blood. Ask your phlebotomist what donation type best suits you at your next appointment.
To help Bonfils keep our community blood supply at a stable level, please call 303.363.2300, 800.365.0006, opt. 2 or visit www.bonfils.org to schedule your appointment and learn more about automated donation and your preferred donation type.
Plasma: Lifesaving Liquid Gold
“People donating gave me my life,” Dallas said as she choked
back tears. “I have a four-year-old grandson and I’m not
ready to leave him.”
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COMMON USES OF PLASMA AND PLASMA-DERIVATIVESCOAGULATION
Used in treatment of bleeding disorders, including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease.
CRITICAL CARE PRODUCTS
Used in critical care settings for treatment of shock and burns, during surgery and for fluid replacement therapy.
WOUND HEALING
Used in surgery and the treatment of wounds to facilitate healing.
RESPIRATORY
Used in the treatment of alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency (a genetic condition resulting in liver and lung failure).
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
Used in the treatment of immunological disorders, such as congenital and acquired primary immune deficiency as well as many diseases that strike healthy people due to some change in the body’s defense system.
Bonfils recently implemented changes to raise the whole blood weight requirement policy from a minimum of 110 lbs to 115 lbs. In order to align with industry standards and to better serve our healthcare partners and their patients, Bonfils is now using a larger blood collection bag during a whole blood donation. The new weight requirement is designed to support our commitment to protecting the safety and preventing adverse outcomes of our donors. This change does not affect automated donations, which we collect at our five fixed-site locations in Metro Denver.
WEIGHING IN: Do you weigh less than 115 lbs?
Do we have your email address? Sign up to create your online account
and enjoy the enhanced features and convenience of viewing, scheduling, cancelling and rescheduling your appointments online, as well as managing your personal information and preferences.
Visit www.bonfils.org to create your donor account today. You can also provide your email address at your next donation appointment so we can provide you important and timely Bonfils information.
Saving LivesJust Got Easier
On April 7, 2011, state officials once again recognized Donate Life Month in April with a gubernatorial proclamation and annual blood drive at the Colorado State Capitol. Illustrating that blood donation is one of the easiest ways to give back to the community, nearly 40 state officials, workers and community members gave an hour of their time to save lives by giving blood. Donate Life Month is a time designated to raise awareness about the need for blood, marrow, organ and tissue donation and to celebrate those who have made the commitment to save lives.Day 4 Life, in partnership with CBS4, marked the culmination of the Donate Life Month celebration with a focus on patients suffering from blood cancers. On April 29, Bonfils Blood Center’s Colorado Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) and CBS4 held a special marrow and fundraising drive at select Metro Area Safeway locations to add potential marrow donors to the Be The Match Registry®.As the potential marrow donor population ages and those over the age of 61 are removed from the registry, more donors are continually needed to help patients find an unrelated stem cell or marrow match. Ethnicity is also crucial when matching patients with donors. Since tissue type is inherited, patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds are less likely to find a matching donor. Adding more diverse members from the African-American, Asian, Hispanic and Native American communities increases the likelihood that more patients will find a lifesaving match.Throughout April, CMDP also benefited from the generosity of The Copper Pot restaurant which selected CMDP to receive a donation equivalent to 10 percent of all food and wine sales every Monday. Funds will help offset the cost of adding new potential donors to the Be The Match Registry®.The total cost to add a new member to the Be The Match Registry® is about $100. This includes the initial tissue typing test needed to match donors to searching patients and other related costs.A little support goes a long way. Each donor who is added to the registry increases the probability that a match for a patient can be found. Your contribution is necessary for more people to join in the future. Every gift helps make lifesaving transplants a reality for more patients.Thanks to community-minded people and organizations we are able to give hope to thousands of patients in need of lifesaving transplants.
Resolutions to Save Lives Resolutions to Save Lives
4
“The state of Colorado recognizes the generosity of those who have saved lives by donating and appreciates their lifesaving contributions to the people of our state,” Governor John Hickenlooper stated in proclaiming April 2011 as Donate Life Month in Colorado.
In February, Bonfils Blood Center lost a dear friend and advocate, Lupe Cervantes, who succumbed to complications from his nearly four-year fight against lymphoma. Lupe had entered remission after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in June 2008, but relapsed and was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma in July 2009. Following his second diagnosis, friends and family of Lupe and his girlfriend, Georgia Silver, collaborated with Bonfils’ Colorado Marrow Donor Program to host marrow donor recruitment drives from Ft. Collins to Denver.
Although Lupe was unable to find that lifesaving donor match, the hundreds of new potential donors who were added to the Be The Match Registry® in Lupe’s honor will give hope to the more than 10,000 patients diagnosed with blood-related diseases each year. Lupe’s story and spirit live on in all of those searching for a donor match. You can help those still searching by joining the Be The Match Registry® or making a financial contribution to Bonfils Blood Center Foundation to help cover the cost of adding more potential donors to the registry.
Learn more about Lupe’s important message and honor his memory by sharing it with family and friends. Visit Bonfils’ YouTube Channel at http://YouTube.com/bonfilsbloodcenter and click on Lupe’s Battle Against Lymphoma video.
In Loving Memory...
Lupe Cervantes with girlfriend, Georgia Silver
5
TRIBUTE and MEMORIAL GIFTS
In Honor ofAML PatientsMary Awalt
Blood Drive Participants at St. Andrew United Methodist ChurchJames B. and
Beverly A. Warner
Cash Lloyd CaseThe Case Family
The Friedrich FamilyStanley and
Janaan Swann
Dr. Ben GallowayJohn M. ClikemanRobert A. and
Joyce M. Nelson
Marty and Kelly Harrison
Lois Harrison
Dean Laatt and Shauna Levinson
Joseph Shaw
Jason LansdownNicola Lansdown
Roxie RuleJoseph and Jean Young
Elizabeth M. ShannonElizabeth A. Shannon
Barb StanleyJoy Stern
John TomichJohn E. and Grace R.
Tomich
Hailey TexierraAnonymous
Elmer VigilMarion Nesladek
In Memory ofGeorge C. Baggs and Laura S. BaggsDavid L. Baggs
ailings such as this, you may call us at 303.739.4000 or em
ail foundation@
bonfils.org. Bonfils B
lood Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. M
ost contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allow
ed by the law.
11
On June 13, 2011 Bonfils Blood Center will honor more than 300 five-gallon and above donors, financial contributors, community and healthcare partners, marrow donors, Bonfils ambassadors, gold level blood drive host organizations and volunteers at its annual appreciation dinner in Pueblo. The accomplishments of these dedicated supporters has made our lifesaving work possible this past year. Four special awards will be presented to those who have shown exceptional commitment to the mission of Bonfils Blood Center:
• Community Partner Award — Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo Park West Community Blood Drive, for their lifesaving partnership as both a blood drive host and longtime supporter of Bonfils’ Pueblo Community Donor Operations staff. We share a vision to improve the health of our community through partnership and collaboration.
• VolunteeroftheYearAward— Lt. Col. Tom Oetjen, retired, Fountain Ft. Carson High School, for supporting the ongoing success of the Fountain Ft. Carson community blood drive program.
• OutstandingBloodDrivePerformanceAward– Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP), for increasing blood drive growth, donor participation, volunteer and/or liaison support, creativity in promotion and overall performance of their blood drive program.
• FoundationLeadershipAward— Pueblo Community Donor Operations staff, for their contributions to Bonfils Blood Center Foundation. Their support financially and through blood donations demonstrates a commitment to our mission of saving and enhancing lives through transfusion medicine excellence.
Southern Colorado
Supporters Honored for
Lifesaving Work
Southern Colorado
Supporters Honored for
Lifesaving Work
This summer lay back, relax and fill the bag that’s fuel for life by giving blood. Blood donations often decline in the summer
months, yet patients’ need for blood is constant during this time due to accidents, surgeries and medical treatments.
All donors who give blood
Sunday, June 19 - Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011will receive a Bonfils insulated tote bag.*
Call 303.363.2300 or 800.365.0006, opt. 2 or visit www.bonfils.org to schedule your appointment
online to give blood.
BE THE ONE TO HELP KEEP US FROM RUNNING ON EMPTY
*while supplies last
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCEIN OUR COMMUNITY
Thank you to the following Gold Level Blood Drive Hosts for achieving an average of 90 percent or above donor participation for blood drives.Alliance DataAmerican Legion -
LongmontAugustana Lutheran
ChurchAurora Corporate PlazaBennett High SchoolBerthoud High SchoolBoulder High SchoolBrown BrothersBurlington CommunityByers Community
Knights of ColumbusCastle View High SchoolCelestial SeasoningsCesar E. Chavez National
Blood Drive ChallengeCH2M HillChrist Community
Covenant ChurchChrist the Servant
Lutheran ChurchThe Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints - Castle Rock Stake
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Denver Stake
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Englewood Stake
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Westminster North
Church of the Holy Comforter
CoBankColorado Department of
RevenueColorado Departments
of Personnel and Administration / Labor and Employment
Colorado Mental Health Institute - Fort Logan
Colorado Sickle Cell Association
Communication Workers of America/AT&T
Congregation Har HaShem
D’ Evelyn Junior Senior High School
Dakota Ridge High School
Default Servicing Solutions, LLC
Dish NetworkEads High SchoolEKS&HEnglewood High SchoolFirst Data CorporationGateway Christian
Pharmacy CSSKeystone ResortKutak RockLegacy High SchoolLockton CompaniesMiddle Park High SchoolOracle - DTCThe Outlets at LovelandPresbyterian and United
Churches of BroomfieldRampart and Water
Systems, Inc.Red Rocks Community
CollegeREI - BoulderRTDSierra Nevada Corp.Skyline High SchoolSmoky Hill Senior High
SchoolSouth Adams County
Water and SanitationSpirit of Christ Catholic
ChurchSports AuthorityStaples, Inc.Temple Emanuel
Brotherhood
Thunder Ridge High School
University of Colorado - Evans Scholar House
University of Colorado - School of Law
Thank you to the following Silver Level Blood Drive Hosts for achieving an average of 80 to 89 percent donor participation for blood drives.Aerospace Data FacilityAims Community CollegeAllied InsuranceAmeriCorps - NCCCArapahoe County
LegionATBS Business ServicesAvaya Communications -
WestminsterAve Maria Catholic
ChurchBackcountry BreweryBreckenridge Ski PatrolBrighton Community
Recreation CenterBrighton Health &
Wellness FairBroomfield Community
ChurchBroomfield United
Methodist ChurchCallahan Capital
PartnersCAMP-MSCDCañon City CommunityCherry Creek High
SchoolThe Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints - Littleton Stake
City of Boulder Public Safety
Colorado Mountain College - Leadville Community
Columbine LibraryComcast Business
Services - Fulton St.CSG SystemsDeer Trail CommunityDenver Center for
International StudiesThe Denver HospiceDenver International
AirportDenver Public Library -
Bear Valley BranchDenver ZooE-470 Public Highway
AuthorityEaglecrest High SchoolEinstein Noah
CorporationElizabeth High SchoolEmergency Medical
Services CorporationEvergreen High SchoolFaith Community
Church - LittletonFHWAFort Morgan Young
FarmersFountain Ft. Carson High
SchoolFront Range Community
College - LongmontGolden LibraryGolder Associates, Inc.Greenwood Village
City HallHighlands Ranch
Association at Eastridge
Highlands Ranch High School
HUB International Insurance Services
Hunter DouglasIBMThe Inverness Hotel and
Conference CenterKinder MorganKremmling Community -
Cedar Ridge 4H Club
Lafayette Community Oatmeal Festival
Lewan & AssociatesLifepicsLockheed Martin - OrionLockheed Martin -
WatertonLogan County
Department of Social Services
Longmont High SchoolMeans-Knaus PartnersMessner & Reeves, LLCMetro WastewaterMetropoint IMillerCoorsMoney Gram
InternationalNational Park ServiceNational Park Service -
LakewoodNew Hope Presbyterian
ChurchPinnacle Charter SchoolProLogisPublic Service Credit
UnionPueblo West High SchoolQuest DiagnosticsQwest PioneersRock Canyon High
SchoolRocky Mountain
Christian ChurchRoosevelt High SchoolSouthern Gables ChurchSpectra LogicSt. Anthony North/
Centura HealthSt. Louis ParishSt. Michael the
ArchangelSt. Thomas More Parish
CenterStolle MachinerySun Harley Davidson/
BuellSunflower Farmers
MarketSwedish Medical CenterKen Switzer
Replenishment DriveTemple SinaiTen West - Westmoor
Technology Park
12
Blood’s journey from donor to patient. Because life happens.
Thanks to the following companies and organizations for being an important part of our lifesaving mission. Collectively, their blood drives (December 2010 - March 2011) generated nearly 50,000 units of donated blood for our community blood supply. Their generosity and support is appreciated by hundreds of patients every day. Bonfils Blood Center regularly uses 97 percent of donated blood. When you give blood you can be assured it’s needed and used efficiently.
Thompson Valley High School
Thorn Creek ChurchTrane CompanyTranswestern Regency
PlazaTricare Management
ActivityTri-State Generation &
Transmissiontw telecom - QuebecU.S. Environmental
Protection AgencyUMB BankUniversity of Colorado -
Farrand HallUniversity of Colorado -
Kittredge Residence Hall West
Vail Board of RealtorsWalmart - BroomfieldWarren TechWest Bowles Community
ChurchWestern Area Power
AdministrationXILINXYampa Valley Medical
Center
Thank you to the following Bronze Level Blood Drive Hosts for achieving an average of 70 to 79 percent donor participation for blood drives.11th and Court4600 South Syracuse
BuildingAdams State CollegeAkron CommunityAlamosa CommunityAll Saints Lutheran
ChurchAnadarko PetroleumArmstrong Financial
ServicesArvada CommunityAvista HospitalBeverage DistributorsB’Nai Chaim TempleBroadridge/ServiceLinkBuena Vista CommunityCableLabs
Calvary Church - Longmont
Carbon Valley Community American Legion
Centennial High SchoolCherry Creek NorthChrist Lutheran ChurchChristian Living
Communities - The Johnson Center
Church of the Risen Christ
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Lakewood Stake
Church Ranch Office Park
City of ArvadaCity of Aurora Central
LibraryCity of LongmontCity of Louisville Senior
ServicesClear Creek High School
CommunityColorado AccessColorado Department of
Human ServicesColorado Department
of Law Colorado Mental Health
Institute of PuebloColorado Department
of Veterans Affairs - Regional Office
Colorado PERAColorado School of MinesColorado State University Colorado Territorial
Correctional FacilityColumbine Unity ChurchComcast - Dry CreekCraig CommunityCraig HospitalCrow Hill and Elk Creek
Community DriveDenver Museum of
Nature and ScienceDigitalGlobeDIRECTV - EnglewoodDowntown Denver
Community
Eastern Hills Community Church
Electronic Solutions, Inc.Evergreen LibraryFamily in Christ
Community ChurchFlagler CommunityFort Lupton High SchoolFourway Baptist ChurchFremont Correctional
Partners, LPMicro MotionMile Hi ChurchMoffat County High
SchoolMonte Vista CommunityMontview Presbyterian
Church - Park Hill Community
National Business CenterNational Jewish HealthNorth Suburban Medical
CenterNorthglenn Christian
ChurchOracleOverland High SchoolParkview Medical CenterPaychexPearl Street CommunityPeterson Air Force BasePhilip S. Miller LibraryPrime WestPtarmigan - Cherry
Smoky Hill LibrarySounds TrueSouth High SchoolSprint Nextel - Park
MeadowsSquareTwo FinancialSt. Andrew Methodist
ChurchSt. Anthony Central
HospitalSterling Correctional
FacilityStratton CommunitySundyne CorporationTommy Taylor
Replenishment DriveTeleTechThomson ReutersTown of Parker - Town
HallTranswestern - 17th Ave.Transwestern
Broadreach 1999, LLCTravelportTrinidad Communitytw telecomTwin Peaks MallU.S. Fish and Wildlife
ServicesUniversity of Colorado
Denver - AurariaUniversity of DenverURS CorporationVeterans Affairs Health
Administration CenterWalmart - 4th &
WadsworthWalmart - Loveland
SouthWestern State CollegeWestern UnionWestminster High SchoolWestminster Parole
OfficeWestwoods Community
ChurchWet Mountain Rotary of
WestcliffeWheat Ridge High SchoolWhole Foods -
Washington ParkXcel Energy - Pawnee
Power PlantZACHRY Engineering
Corporation
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On April 27, Bonfils Blood Center Foundation hosted nearly 200 guests at the Denver Botanic Gardens at the 4th annual Because Life Happens Fundraising Breakfast. The breakfast helped raise nearly $80,000 to support the blood center’s programs and services. We value the financial support of new and existing benefactors who understand it takes more than blood to save a life. Their financial gifts will help treat sickle cell and other
recipients with unique transfusion needs, purchase testing equipment for Bonfils’ Reference Laboratory, give hope to someone with a blood cancer, like leukemia, and much more. There are many ways to be a part of Bonfils Blood Center’s lifesaving mission. For more information please visit www.bonfils.org, email [email protected] or call 303.739.4000.
Bonfils will begin piloting an electronic donation record to replace the current paper donor questionnaire. The new system will make the questionnaire and health history process automated in order to prevent missing
information and ensure accuracy. The electronic donor record will feature the same questions as the paper donor record but questions will be gender specific.
Bonfils is committed to protecting the personal information of our donors. Donor information will be entered using a touch screen tablet and all data will be stored in our central network and will remain completely secure.
The automated questionnaire will eventually be used at all Bonfils donor centers and blood drives. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Bonfils’ Customer Care department at 303.363.2200.
14
Join us for the 8th annual Chip in for Life golf benefit at Glenmoor Country Club in Cherry Hills Village. Link up your passion for golf and your support for patients by
becoming a 2011 Chip in for Life tournament sponsor, golfer or volunteer.
Last year’s tournament raised nearly $75,000. All proceeds will support the blood center’s programs such as blood supply and patient safety, mobile blood drives, the Colorado Marrow Donor Program, community outreach, job training and research.
Bonfils will begin piloting an electronic donation record to replace the current paper donor
questionnaire. The new system will make the questionnaire and health history process
automated in order to prevent missing information and ensure accuracy.
Please ask a Bonfils staff member if you would like more information.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to support the community blood supply.
UPGRADING OUR TECHNOLOGY
JUNE 27at Bonfils’
Lowry Community Donor Center
CDO_1758
AUGUST 1, 2011
JUNE 17, 18 AND 19
FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11AM-11PM
SUNDAY 11AM-8PM
JUNE 27at Bonfils’
Lowry CommunityDonor Center
OPA! The Greek Festival is excited to once again partner with Bonfils to help support the
community blood supply and patients in need. This marks the fourth consecutive year of hosting a three-day blood drive during the event. Satisfy your appetite with a taste of Greece then stop by Bonfils’ onsite mobile bus to give blood and save lives.Visit http://www.bonfils.org/facebook to learn more about the blood drives and the festival.
If you want to show your Bonfils pride, send a picture of yourself with your Bonfils t-shirt, hat, lapel pin or other Bonfils item along with your name, picture description and contact information to [email protected] or to:
717 Yosemite Street, Denver, CO 80230 Attn: Brooke Benham
You may appear in a future Heartbeat newsletter or on Bonfils’ Facebook Fan Page.
15
An Open Letter to the
Colorado Community
World Blood Donor Day“Celebrate the gift of blood” JUNE 14, 2011World Blood Donor Day is a day dedicated to thanking and celebrating voluntary blood donors. This date is also marked by the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the creator of the ABO blood group system, for which he won the Nobel Prize. One of the main goals of the World Blood Donor Day is to encourage community members to give blood helping to ensure the availability of safe blood for transfusion.
Proudly Supports Bonfils Blood Center
Bonfils’ annual Letter to the Community published in the Sunday, March 27 edition of The Denver Post showcases our role in Colorado’s healthcare community and our service to our constituents – donors, patients, healthcare partners and the community-at-large while thanking our supporters for their commitment to saving and enhancing lives.
Visit www.bonfils.org and search for “Letter to the Community” to learn more about how your continued support will ensure we maintain our role as a viable and valuable resource for the Colorado community.
JUNE 17, 18 AND 19
FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11AM-11PM
SUNDAY 11AM-8PM
BONFILS PRIDE
717
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0230
NON-
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7
MissionPartnering with our community to save and enhance
lives through transfusion medicine excellence.
Quality PolicyCommunity Centered · Quality Driven
Go green. Subscribe to the Heartbeat eNewsletter by visiting www.bonfils.org.
Find us on Facebook at http://bonfils.org/facebook or follow us on Twitter @bonfilsdotorg for real-time information
about news and events.
Editor: Brooke Benham 303.341.4000, opt. 3 or 800.365.0006, opt. 3