Beloved daughter and wife, Lucy had just added the title of ‘mother’ on September 1st of last year when she unexpectedly passed away ten days after giving birth to her beautiful baby girl, Daisy Madeline.
“It had been an ideal pregnancy all along until the end of August,” shared Lucy’s husband, Daniel. “Nothing prepared us for the turn of events and the diagnosis of a rare blood clotting pregnancy complication that impacts 1 out of 10,000 pregnant women — Lucy being that 1 in 10,000. Because the blood clotting issue was affecting the placenta and putting the baby in danger, Lucy underwent an emergency c-section and Daisy was born 6 weeks before her due date.”
Over the course of 6-7 days after delivering her baby, Lucy underwent emergency surgery twice.
“Lucy received over 70 units of blood and until she received the first unit, we didn’t realize the importance and impact of having lifesaving blood on hand. For 11 days, Lucy and her medical team fought hard to make her well and I kept seeing the units of blood coming to help her along. There was never a fear or doubt that blood would be available for her.”
Despite lifesaving measures, Lucy passed away on September 11, 2023, the very same day, the American Red Cross announced a blood shortage.
“The day Lucy passed away, a family friend informed us of the national blood shortage the Red Cross had announced that very same day. While I joke today that Lucy ‘must have used it all,’ I can’t fathom how it would have impacted us had at any point we’d been told that blood products were not available for Lucy.
The American Red Cross declared a national blood shortage on September 11, 2023, then again on January 8, 2024, citing a critically low blood supply level that dropped nearly 25% since early August 2023. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations can have a significant impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion.
“The idea of a blood drive in her honor was born from her labor and delivery nurse and it felt right to honor her memory this way. I lived through it – I experienced first-hand how critical to recovery receiving donated blood can be and the importance of having it available in case of emergency. Lucy was the love of my life and a bright light who left us too soon. She lived to the fullest and brought so much joy everywhere she went and with everyone she interacted with and I know that encouraging others to donate blood would be something she would want done. I had never donated blood, however, in her memory, I hope to be a recurring blood donor as my way to pay it forward so that others have a chance at recovery.”
With as many as 60,000 U.S. birthing parents each year affected by severe maternal morbidity, unexpected outcomes of labor or delivery that have serious short- or long-term health impacts, it is likely that either you or someone you know has required the blood of donors during pregnancy or delivery.
You can help expectant and new parents overcome unexpected challenges, offering them the chance for more joy with their newborn babies. All blood types are needed to ensure a robust blood supply is available when patients need it most. Visit RedCrossBlood.org to find a blood donation appointment near you.
Written by Connie Esparza, Communications Manager for the Illinois Red Cross
American Red Cross of Illinois 