Versiti - Matilda Franks | Impact Stories
 

Matilda Franks

“I will continue donating blood as long as I am able.”

Matilda Franks

Matilda Franks spent her career as a cardiovascular surgical nurse and encountered many patients who needed blood products during their operations. Each time one of her patients needed blood, it was Matilda’s responsibility to do a careful job of checking them in. Throughout her career, Matilda did this countless times, but one patient in particular stuck with her.

“My duty that day was to check in all blood products ordered by the physicians,” she says. “Each bag contains a numbered sticker that is placed into a patient’s chart as a record of the blood, platelets or other products that are used. That day, I filled a complete blood record with stickers for whole blood, packed cells and platelets. That patient needed more blood and blood products than I, as a regular donor, had given in my lifetime!”

It was something Matilda will never forget and serves as a guiding force as she continues to donate blood into her 80s. “That memory is tattooed on my brain and heart,” she says. “I will continue donating blood as long as I am able.”


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.

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Blood Donation FAQs
Read frequently asked questions involving donor eligibility, donation process, blood safety, platelet donation, plasma donation and more.
 
Types of Donations
Volunteer to donate blood at a blood donation center near you. Find out how often you can donate blood and make an appointment to donate today.
 
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Diverse blood donations improve blood transfusion outcomes for sickle cell patients and diverse blood recipients. Make an appointment to donate blood.
 
Share Your Story
Versiti invites you to share your story and photo to help encourage more people to give back. You may even be featured throughout the year on our social media.