Nicole Hoff is the first to admit that she’s never been great with needles. One step into a sterilized room and the smell of disinfectant makes her knees go weak. But in March 2020, her college sent an email to students encouraging them to donate at an upcoming blood drive. Nicole and her roommate talked it over and made up their minds to donate blood together.

That same night, Nicole learned that a former grade-school classmate passed away after a battle with glioblastoma. “He was a great kid with a lot of spirit in him, with a smile that could light up a room,” Nicole says. “I was heartbroken, because he had gone through so much. Thinking about that, it definitely gave me some extra courage and prepared me to conquer my fear of needles.”

The next morning, both ladies arrived for their appointments, but Nicole soon felt light-headed and weak in the knees. While she took a breather, her roommate gave her a pep talk. “As I put myself back together, I was ready and still committed and didn’t want to quit,” Nicole says.

In the end, Nicole and her roommate conquered their fears together. “There is truly nothing better than donating blood with your best friend,” Nicole says. “As of now, I have donated a total of 13 pints of blood and plan to continue donating as long as I am able to. Always remember: It’s a beautiful day to save lives!”

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.