Melinda Samuels, Margie Symons, Lizie Ngcobo’s four-year-old daughter Chloé, Roelof Badenhorst.
Their names are not known to most South Africans, but they are testament to the power we all have: the ability to save a life.
They are among the hundreds of thousands of South Africans whose lives have been saved by something so simple yet powerful beyond words: a blood transfusion.
30 years ago, Melinda needed four pints of blood after she haemorrhaged during the birth of her first child. Doctors later told her that without a blood transfusion she would have died.
Margie required the same amount of blood after being admitted to hospital 10 years ago after a serious car crash during which she broke both her legs and seven ribs, causing air and blood to enter the chest cavity.
Chloé needed two pints of blood after being born eight weeks premature.
Roelof needed a blood transfusion after surgery and being placed in an induced coma after being knocked off his motorbike by a drunk driver, which resulted in him breaking his right leg, dislocating his hip and cracking a couple of ribs.
While extolling the skill of their doctors and nurses, all four have no doubt who else to thank: the donors who provided the blood that saved their lives.
As South Africa celebrates Blood Donor Month in June, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) would like to acknowledge the ordinary South Africans who selflessly give the gift of life to strangers.
“South Africa is well acquainted with heroes. Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Nkosi Johnson, Natalie du Toit – they are widely feted and acknowledged. But there are scores of other unacknowledged heroes in South Africa, the thousands of ordinary men and women who regularly donate blood, selflessly and without expectation of a reward or recognition,” says Silungile Mlambo, national marketing manager for the SANBS.
“Blood Donor Month, and World Blood Donor Day, which is celebrated globally on 14 June, is for them. It gives us the opportunity to acknowledge their gift and to say thank you. Your selflessness is not unrecognised, nor will it ever be forgotten.”
Mlambo says the theme for World Blood Donor Day 2017 is blood donation in emergencies.
She called on all South Africans to donate blood.
“One simple action can can make a huge difference. For the donor, it’s a few minutes every 56 days. For the recipient, it’s helping them live so they can create a lifetime of memories. Become a donor. It’s not just blood; it’s saving a nation,” says Mlambo.
To find out more about donating blood and to locate your nearest SANBS donor centre, visit sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31.
[Excerpts from an article prepared by Flow Communications on behalf of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS)]
