At age 19, sickle cell warrior Antonia Perry suffered a stroke caused by improper care during childbirth. For six years, she received blood transfusions every four weeks, which continued while she was pregnant with her second and third children.

Today, Antonia is grateful that a frequent blood donor was her perfect match and provided the blood she needed to stay healthy. “I have received full blood exchanges with my last three major surgeries to ensure I wouldn’t have a crisis,” she says. “It does work wonders.”

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.