When Jenny Havlik learned that health issues would require her to deliver her daughter, Anya, via scheduled C-section, she was thrilled to learn it would allow her to donate her placenta and umbilical cord tissue. “I like to help others in any way I can,” she says. “Making the decision to donate my umbilical cord and placenta, rather than have them disposed of, was easy.”

Birth tissue donation, including placenta and umbilical cords, provides life-changing assistance to patients in need of skin grafts. It’s also instrumental in the research and development of new treatments for a variety of diseases.

“The staff at the hospital were so grateful for my donation,” Jenny says. “Many people don’t realize it’s an option or that it can make a difference in so many people’s lives. I would definitely encourage others to donate their placenta and umbilical cord so they can be used to help others.”

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.