When the possibility of donating her placenta was brought up to Rachel Copher at one of her doctor’s appointments, she didn’t hesitate before opting in. “We did a little bit of research, whether it would be good for us to do something else with it, but this seemed like the best option,” she says.

During Rachel’s scheduled C-section, a Versiti Organ and Tissue staff member was onsite to collect Rachel’s birth tissue after her baby was delivered. Rachel is happy to know that her placenta was donated to help patients with serious burns and other injuries.

“It makes me feel very happy; that was why we decided to do it,” she says. “Anything that can make somebody else’s quality of life better is all good to me.”

Now, Rachel encourages other expectant mothers who will deliver their babies via planned C-sections to consider donating their placenta, too. “The process is so easy,” she says. “You don’t have to really do anything. There’s no reason not to do it!”

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.