Blood Donor Spotlight: Angela McGinnis

Angela, left, standing with Donitra Gray,
Red Cross Collections Charge Nurse

Angela McGinnis has been a blood donor since she was in high school. “I try to do my civic duty and give back to the community… I probably donate twice a year,” said Angela. She expressed that you never know when you might be the one who needs blood. “[Blood] is not something you can make. That’s the only way you can get it is if people donate.”

Donating blood is personal for Angela, as her husband, brother and mom have needed blood transfusions. “Lots of people in my family have had medical issues… My husband had bleeding ulcers. My mom needed a transfusion when she had stomach issues. My brother has diverticulitis. He bled so bad once that he needed a pint of blood,” said Angela. She also knows someone with Sickle Cell disease. “We know as a minority it usually takes somebody in the same ethnic group to get a match,” she said.

Angela wants to encourage people to come out and give. “Donating blood is not as bad as people think. It doesn’t take much time. If not to help yourself, do it to help other people. You never know when it could be you in the hospital.”

Thank you for sharing your story, Angela! Find a blood drive in your area by going to redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

National Blood Collectors Week: Sydney Boyd

During the pandemic, Sydney Boyd decided to change her career and learn something new. “I already had my Bachelor’s degree. I wanted to find something I could be certified for. I went to the Kentucky School of Phlebotomy and took a 6-week course there,” said Sydney. She explained that healthcare never stops and that there’s always a need for a phlebotomist, nurse, or doctor.

Sydney has been on our team for almost 2 years. She is a Collections Specialist I and floats between our Louisville fixed donation centers. She is a natural with people, making them feel seen. Sydney commented on a grateful blood donor, saying, “There was a donor, she was in her early 70’s. At the end of her donation, she touched my arm and said, ‘you have such a calm presence and I love it. You don’t make me feel nervous.”

Another blood donor complimented Sydney’s professionalism and attention to detail. “He was quiet at the beginning. At the end, he said ‘I’m a physician’s assistant. I just wanted you to know you did everything perfectly, from disposing of waste to changing your gloves.’ That made me feel really good,” said Sydney.

Sydney loves spending time with her friends and family. She is big on mental health and tells those in her life that they can always talk to her and seek help when they need it. “Some of my friends call me their guardian angel or saving grace,” said Sydney. She loves working at the Red Cross because she knows she is always saving lives.

We are so thankful to have such an empathetic and wonderful team member! We know you will continue to make a positive impact, Sydney! #NationalBloodCollectorsWeek

National Blood Collectors Week: Tramel Ingram

It’s National Blood Collectors Week, and today we are spotlighting Tramel Ingram! Tramel is a Collections Specialist I, working at our Hubbards Lane east end location in Louisville. “It will be 11 years with the Red Cross on September 17^th,” said Tramel. “I started off on the road with blood drives as a Specialist II. I did that for 4 and a half years.”

Tramel is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and received her degree from Jefferson Community & Technical College. One of her favorite memories is helping a blood donor through their fear of donating. “She was very nervous. I helped her calm down and eased her spirit. I gave her some calming techniques and encouraged her to take deep breaths,” said Tramel. The blood donor needed surgery a few weeks later. “Right before her surgery, she came back in with a dozen roses for me. She really appreciated me making her feel comfortable,” said Tramel.

Outside of Red Cross, Tramel continues to impact people with her nursing skills. “I work at a methadone clinic. I enjoy helping others. My heart goes out to people, and I hate to see people suffer,” she said. “I’ve seen some success stories there. And some not so good. It’s heart wrenching when people are trying, and they fall by the wayside.” Tramel has been helping at the clinic for 5 years.

In her free time, Tramel loves to spend time with her family. She’s a twin and has 2 sons and 2 grandbabies. She is a Mary Kay consultant, loves to shop and go to church. When talking about her job at Red Cross, she says simply, “I love what I do. I love people.”

National Blood Collectors Week: Savannah Cooper

Sept. 3-9 is National Blood Collectors Week, a time we celebrate the work and contributions of our blood collections team in supporting hospital patient care.

Meet Savanna Cooper! Savanna started with Red Cross last year. “I started giving platelets and got recruited by staff members,” she said. Savanna loves working with her team, saying “I always know that I’m doing something good. I’m always helping.”

Savanna is a Collections Charge Nurse. Her favorite memory involved helping a woman who was grieving the loss of her husband. “Her husband had passed away about a month prior. They used to donate blood together,” said Savanna. “It was good for her because she wanted to keep giving blood to honor him, but it was also hard because she was alone all of a sudden.” Savanna was with the blood donor during a difficult time and provided her comfort. 

Savanna has 3 dogs and loves to get outside to kayak and hike. “I love to sit and have a good book and tea,” she said. Savanna is looking forward to the next few months as she’s getting married to her fiancé, Tory, in October. Help us congratulate Savanna and thank her for her lifesaving work! #NationalBloodCollectorsWeek