Katie Jorgensen, from Newark, Ill., was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2015. During chemotherapy, Katie received seven blood and platelet transfusions to help her body recover from the grueling treatments. When she finished treatment in July 2016, her doctors declared Katie cancer-free.

Katie’s high school, Joliet Catholic Academy, holds blood drives to help save the lives of other patients like her. Inspired by her journey, Katie has ambitions to one day become a nurse – and wants to bring awareness to the life-saving power of blood donation.

“Without blood donors, I wouldn’t be here today. I am so lucky for the blood I received, that I want to make sure many people have the chance to receive blood in the future,” said Katie.

People need people, make a difference in someone’s life by donating blood.

We must rely on each other for the gift of blood, and patients in your community rely on the generosity of Versiti’s blood donors to help. Please consider scheduling an appointment to donate. If this is your first time, donating blood is quick, easy and relatively painless. And, it is a great way to give back and help patients in your community.