Finding Strength in Community: The Ward Family's Journey

The Ward Family. Photo credit: Karen Ward

What do you turn to when despair strikes your family? When the devastation takes your breath away? Karen Ward turns to her faith and the strength in community. Karen and Justin Ward have three beautiful girls together, Tenley, Adley, and Caselyn. In December of 2018, Tenley was two years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The family, from Hodgenville, Kentucky, moved temporarily to Cincinnati for treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. 

At four years old, Tenley relapsed and had to receive a bone marrow transplant. After years of treatment and blood transfusions, the family was preparing to go back home. The day they were packing, Adley was diagnosed with the exact same cancer. She was just three years old. The Ward’s had to start their journey all over again, focused on saving Tenley and Adley, while raising Caselyn, who was a newborn baby at the time.

“[Talking about the support] makes me cry. I’m from a small town. Larue county. Full of wonderful people. Above and beyond. In that time, we could have asked for the world, and it would have been delivered to the hospital,” said Karen. Tenley needed to receive blood immediately. “We knew she needed blood and we thought it would be an easy thing. It turned out, she was A-. There was no A- blood anywhere in a radius that would get to us quick enough for when she needed it… It’s a horrible feeling when it’s your child. You want to be able to get them whatever they need,” said Karen. Thankfully, Tenley was able to take the RhoGAM shot to receive a transfusion with a different blood type.

Tenley with Karen.
Photo credit: Karen Ward

Tenley developed a brain injury after her bone marrow transplant. “Tenley had lost all motor function. She couldn’t walk, talk or move her facial features to let you know she was sad, happy, angry. She couldn’t drink or eat… She was in a gait trainer and a wheelchair. It was a long road,” Karen said. 

Tenley and Adley both needed whole blood and platelet transfusions to survive. Platelets are most often used during cancer treatment for blood clotting. “We’ve had lots of transfusions… For us, it became almost a daily thing. My children wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for people who were willing to donate.” Combined, the girls received over 100 blood product transfusions during treatment. 

The family was persevering through prayer. “Because of our faith, we never doubted our kids were going to get better. I think it’s because God protected us from some of that. I remember when Tenley was first diagnosed. The room was quiet, I was at the end of her bed. I told God, you have to take it because it’s too heavy. There were days that were sad and hard. But I never felt hopeless,” said Karen.

Caselyn has had a unique upbringing, as a village of caretakers helped fill in for Karen and Justin when they were needed at the hospital. Karen became emotional discussing Caselyn, as there were times she wanted alone time with her new baby. She didn’t get to share the newborn bonding time with her. “She’s grown up different which she understands and embraces. She was born during the hardest time of our life… God has a way of working all those things out. This child has always been loved. She has been wrapped up in every way possible since she was born.”

Tenley and Adley.
Photo credit: Karen Ward

The community support for the family never wavered. “It makes you so proud of the people here [in Larue county]. They have carried us when we couldn’t walk… I can’t even remember how many blood drives in honor of the girls were put on with huge showings of people. People who signed up for the bone marrow registry because of Tenley and Adley. People started doing fundraisers, there were shirts made. We had a family who donated a wheelchair to Tenley,” said Karen.

Karen said the best part of their story was the inspiration the girls gave people. “I feel like the girls have had a huge impact on a lot of people. The most important ones are people who said ‘My family didn’t really pray before your girls were sick. Now, we pray together every night.’ I feel like if that was the purpose, then it was worth it.” Karen shared many people who were nervous to give blood overcame their fear in honor of the girls.

Tenley, Adley, and Caselyn are currently at home and happy, trying to live with a bit more routine and stability. Tenley developed epilepsy after her brain injury and experiences 5-10 seizures per day. Karen expressed after cancer, “Life doesn’t move on. It’s part of your daily life. She’s happy and that’s what’s most important to us.” Tenley and Adley both do gymnastics and Adley is starting cheer classes, while Caselyn recently started T-ball. Tenley loves music and coloring. The sisters share a tight bond, ganging up on mom and dad when they try to discipline them.

Tenley, Adley, and Caselyn.
Photo credit: Karen Ward

Karen praised Justin, saying he was born to be a girl dad. He’s the perfect balance for Karen, and they give each other strength when the days get exhausting. “Some people say, ‘We don’t know how you all have done it.’ I say, what choice do you have when it’s your kids? You’re going to do whatever you can. We wouldn’t have been able to endure this without our family and the community.” 

You can help people like the Ward family by donating blood. Schedule an upcoming appointment at our Stars, Stripes and Pints blood drive in Louisville! Go to redcrossblood.org and enter code: HERO. You can keep up with Tenley and Adley by following the “Ward Warriors” Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/teamtenleyiamthestorm/

The Ward Family. Photo credit: Karen Ward

Rumble of Resilience: Kids Uniting Through WWE

The Troutman Family

This one is for the first-time blood donors!

Eliza Troutman donated blood for the first time at the Seth’s Squad blood drive back in March. Seth is a 9-year-old currently in remission from cancer. While Eliza was nervous to give, she knew it was important. Her stepson, Beckham, is a 7-year-old recently diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG). “We met Michelle (Seth’s mom) and Seth through Beckham being diagnosed with cancer. Becks and Seth have bonded over their love of wrestling,” said Eliza. She is married to Ezra, Beckham’s dad.

Beckham is the oldest of 2 siblings and they are a beautiful, blended family. After a relaxing family vacation, Beckham stayed in Florida to spend time with his stepdad and mom, Courtney. Eliza and Ezra traveled back to Kentucky and soon received a devastating call. “He woke up paralyzed. He was fine on vacation at the beach… He just woke up and couldn’t walk. We immediately flew back to Florida. We had to make it to Cincinnati within an hour and a half to catch our flight,” said Eliza.

The family learned that Beckham had a tumor on his spinal cord, at the base of his neck. He received surgery the next morning to remove it. “At first, they said it would be inoperable. But the surgeon got all of it. It was a miracle,” said Eliza. Beckham eventually got transferred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and received the diagnosis of DMG.

Beckham, left, with Seth, right, at
the Seth's Squad blood drive

Beckham started radiation treatment in September ‘23 and was home by mid-October. “He’s in therapy every day. Hoping to get stronger. His latest scan showed the radiation had worked. It’s now NED- no evidence of disease. It was a big shock to us because they said he would always have it,” said Eliza. He’s now doing better than anyone expected.

While Beckham has been through a lot, the significance lies in who he is as a person rather than his diagnosis. “He’s just a great kid. He is quick witted,” said Eliza. “He would give you the shirt off his back. He finds the light in every situation.” Beckham loves watching WWE and playing Fortnite. “Our family is WWE 24/7,” said Eliza. The family is taking everything day by day and is grateful for the support they have received.

While Beckham’s cancer does not require him to receive blood transfusions, we are thankful for Eliza’s donation in honor of Seth. 25% of blood donations are used for transfusions for cancer patients. No time like the present to become a first-time blood donor! Schedule now at redcrossblood.org

Lee Ann Taylor on Giving Back

Lee Ann and Gina

Lee Ann Taylor will have been with the Red Cross for five years in May. A former acute care nurse, Lee Ann lived in Cincinnati, OH before she moved to Louisville to help provide care to her in-laws and needed to find a new job. She’d crossed paths with the Red Cross in Cincinnati as part of her job and was excited to see an opening in the Louisville area. Now she is a Senior Account Manager for our blood services and works in direct contact with our hospital partners in the Louisville area to determine their supply needs, resolve problems, and maintain their contracts.

Being able to enhance the continuity of care is one of the most rewarding parts of Lee Ann's job. “I want to ensure that processes are seamless, of high quality, we're efficient, safe, and the service we provide to the hospitals is optimized. In a lot of ways, I still feel like I'm being a nurse, but being a nurse to my healthcare colleagues.”

Lee Ann was not new to the Red Cross. Her family had ties to the Red Cross through the military and found it interesting that life led her to working for the organization.

Lee Ann's parents at their wedding.

“I'm half Korean and half American. My father was in the army and stationed in South Korea, and that's where he met my mother. My mother will be 84, and back in the day, she went through a lot of war between North and South Korea. The Red Cross was there to help her village from a humanitarian perspective,” said Lee Ann. “My parents were always big supporters of the American Red Cross, and they reared me to be as well. My father passed away in 2016 and to this day I'm always going to believe that he had a hand in this.”

Lee Ann loves what she does because she knows it makes a difference in patients’ lives: “I know that if I serve the doctors, nurses, blood banks, and do right by them, it is going to have a positive effect on the end user, which is the patient.”

One of her favorite work memories is of working closely with donor recruitment and her colleagues in blood services to accomplish their goals and push into new markets. "I cannot say enough about John Davis and Eric Holden. We've laughed, we've cried, we're just all passionate individuals and I just love how we roll.”

Working for a nonprofit is important to Lee Ann. She spent a couple of years at Eli Lilly after getting her MBA and tries to bring what she learned back to the nonprofit world. “I love the commitment to our mission and the service, but [...] you still have to do things in the right manner in order to help all those we help, and that's whether it's on the humanitarian or the medical side.”

“It's a blessing and a privilege to work for the American Red Cross,” Lee Ann said. “I never want to take it for granted. And my hope is, God willing, this is where I will retire, and when I retire, I'll volunteer.”

Before she left Cincinnati, Lee Ann was nominated for the UC Health Healthcare Leader of the Year award. She has been married to her spouse, Gina, for 27 years. Lee Ann and Gina serve as caregivers to Lee Ann’s mother, and one of her goals is to be the best caregiver she can possibly be. They enjoy swimming, birdwatching, and spending time with their miniature schnauzer, Grace.

Seth Walsh Remains Cancer Free!

Seth Walsh

We are thrilled to bring you an update on 9-year-old Seth Walsh! He is now 2 years in remission and CANCER FREE!

Five years ago, Seth was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Over the next 3 years, he faced continuous treatment. He relapsed 4 times, had more than 200 doses of chemotherapy, total body and cranial radiation, 2 bone marrow transplants, treated at 3 different hospitals in 3 different states, 2 immunotherapy treatments, and finally a life‐saving clinical trial. During his treatment, Seth received more than 225 blood product transfusions.

Seth is a 2^nd grader at Mount Washington Elementary School and a member of the Bellarmine University Men’s Basketball team. Seth was able to join the team through a partnership with Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that matches children facing serious illnesses and disabilities with college athletic teams across the country.

Some of Seth’s joys include the Star Wars characters, playing Pokémon and basketball, watching WWE, summertime swimming in his backyard pool, and spending time with his Bernedoodle, Dr. Pepper. Seth is the youngest child in his family and has 2 brothers, Brayden and Max.

Seth with Bellarmine Basketball
Photo credit: Bellarmine University Athletics

Every year since his first bone marrow transplant, we have partnered with the Walsh family to host a blood drive in Mount Washington, Kentucky. We are gearing up for our 4^th annual “Seth’s Squad Rise of the Blood Donor” blood drive on March 26^th. The event is from 11am-6pm at Calvary Christian Center. The family’s wish is to have over 150 blood donors attend the drive.

You can join us to honor Seth! All presenting donors will receive a special edition Red Cross T-shirt and kickball, while supplies last. Go to redcrossblood.org and enter code: SETHSSQUAD and keep up with Seth’s journey by following his Facebook! Facebook.com/sethssquad

Renee Biggs on 10 Years of Growth

Renee Biggs is inspired by the female leadership at Red Cross, and she wants young girls to feel emboldened. “You see a little girl and say, ‘you’re so pretty.’ But it should really be, ‘you are so pretty and so smart.’ We should change that. Because there’s nothing that can stop women,” said Renee. She will be celebrating 10 years with us in April.

Renee began her healthcare career in nursing and wanted a change. She loved patient care but wanted a different approach. “I met Dorothy Armstrong, who still works here. She would tell me how much she loved her job at Red Cross and encouraged me to apply,” said Renee. She started out as a charge nurse within the collections department and was soon promoted to team supervisor.

The opportunities kept coming for Renee, as she transitioned into our donor recruitment department. She managed a territory of blood drives for 2 years. While researching ways to grow in recruitment, she saw the opening for the collections manager. She went for it- and has been our region collections manager for over 5 years.

“I wanted a leadership role. I love people,” said Renee. “I have a good mentor in Chris Baker. I couldn’t imagine anyone better at stewardship for the company. He taught me everything- how to be a good collection manager and how he views people. How to be a good people manager.”

Since stepping into her leadership role, Renee has developed a team culture of respect, accountability and problem solving. “You must have the ability to meet people where they are… Change is such a big thing at Red Cross. Help people buy into it- into the why and the how,” she said. The biomedical department is going on 21 months of exceeding goal- and it’s because of the team support.

Renee truly loves her job and the people she has met. “I tell every person that comes into the door what a great opportunity this is. For me, this has been my career. Anybody that comes in can move up and within the organization. It takes internal and external customer service and display those 5 C’s,” she said. Our 5 C’s are compassionate, collaborative, creative, credible and committed.

She’s most proud of her team and how they continue to rise to meet challenges. Renee has committed to learning how to be a motivating leader. “That’s the key quality- being able to see everyone for who they are. Being seen is very important… Everyone is different. That’s diversity. But that’s what makes us great,” said Renee.

In her free time, Renee can be found with her family. She has been married to Jay for 17 years and they have 4 children and 2 grandchildren. They are active members of their church and recently went on a mission trip to Scotland. Their dog, Luna, is the house princess and “spoiled.” #WomensHistoryMonth

Pam Greer-Ullrich on Soul-Searching and Women in the Workplace

Raise your hand if you remember the times when workplace dress codes meant women couldn’t wear pant suits. Pam Greer-Ullrich has experienced the evolution of women empowerment in the office. “When I worked at Norton Healthcare, it wasn’t until 1992 that I could wear slacks. You wore a dress or dress skirt, with panty hose,” she said. The changes didn’t stop there. “The language has changed. Things are more gender neutral. Everyone became actors instead of saying actress for women. It’s been amazing to see,” said Pam.

Pam received a diploma in medical assisting at Spencerian College early in her career. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Louisville (UofL) and Master of Arts in Business at Webster University. She worked for a pediatric surgeon at UofL and eventually moved over to Norton Healthcare. She quickly found a love for communications when she moved into the public relations department at Norton and met Charlotte Tharp.

Charlotte was one of Pam’s mentors- and a woman she hopes to emulate to this day. “She taught me hard work and to continue the learning process. She was also someone that made me realize that it was okay if I chose not to have children,” said Pam. She has a stepson with her husband, Mark, but chose not to birth children. 

She went on to reflect on the societal stigma that all women should have kids, saying, “Some circles that you are in, the women look at you funny if you say you chose not to have kids. I’ve always admired women who have children, and I would hope that they gave me the same respect. I love children… That just wasn’t my future, there were other things I wanted.”

Pam was at Norton for 19 years and loved it. When the 2009 recession dismantled many families, she found herself unemployed and questioning her ability. “It was a tough time,” she said. “I had to go back to what I was interested in. Several things interest me in life- healthcare and faith being two of them.” Pam moved into a career with the Presbyterian Foundation managing external relations.

In 2019, Pam joined our team as an Account Manager within biomedical services. “I thought to myself, what better way to get back into healthcare? I started donating blood again. I’ve given 21 units since 2019,” she said. Pam gives back by managing community relationships and ensuring patients in the hospital receive the blood they need. She’s been awarded with the President’s Club in 2020 and 2023 for outstanding collaboration and community service.

It's been full circle for Pam, as she now works with UofL and Norton to host blood drives. She is hoping to retire in the next few years and wants her career to reflect one of compassion and care. “I want to always love like my mother did. She was a strong-willed person,” said Pam. She hopes that the future is bright for young aspiring women, saying, “I still look for the day when we have a female president. I hope to see that in my lifetime.”

Pam loves being around the college kids at UofL and speaking with them. “Being able to be around the young people makes a difference. It helps keep your mind going. You must listen to them,” she said. She’s proud of her work at Red Cross. “I learned that there are other organizations that take blood donations. But we are the only ones who also service the military and help in other ways. My father was in the Airforce. My husband was in the Army. That assistance is pivotal. And they are there when the house is on fire. For me, they are still the only place that I would ever donate blood.” Pam has been married to Mark for 36 years and loves to shop, sit on her patio, attend UofL games with friends, and spend time with her dog, Chloe.

Sean Brown - National Phlebotomists Recognition Week

Sean Brown is one of our lead technicians and has been on our team for 2 years. An A+ blood donor since 2018, he is proud of the work we do. “It keeps me going because I know that there are people that are in need and I can make a difference by coming into work and taking blood donations,” said Sean.

It’s a priority for us to embody inclusion in our work and in the community. Sean is transgender and has felt accepted with his coworkers. “The Red Cross has been one of the best places I have worked since coming out. They have provided a welcoming environment and have done everything in their power to help me feel comfortable,” said Sean. “Certain jobs wouldn’t let me have the correct name on my badge due to paperwork, but the Red Cross has put in the effort to where I can live as my authentic self on and off the clock.”

Sean is seeing the positive changes with the Individual Donor Assessment (IDA) screening. Under new FDA guidelines, donors who were previously ineligible due to their sexual orientation may now be eligible to donate blood.

“I was very proud [when IDA was initiated]. In my community, multiple people have talked about how they would like to donate blood, but the [regulation] would not allow them… As soon as it got lifted, I was able to let a lot of people in my close circle know. Now we have multiple forever donors since the change went into action,” said Sean.

Sean’s favorite memory is working the John Hardin High School blood drive. He previously went to school there and enjoyed seeing the teachers work so hard to make the blood drive a success. “It was fun seeing kids I went to school with and the teachers who wanted to make a difference,” he said.

Tammy Ritchie is an expert biomedical account manager and has complimented Sean’s ability to connect with donors. “Sean’s customer service is outstanding. He always makes donors feel comfortable, and they continue to come back,” said Tammy.

In his personal life, Sean enjoys playing video games. He plays all The Sims life simulation games. We are grateful for the work Sean does! #NationalPhlebotomistRecognitionWeek

Trinacy Graham - National Phlebotomists Recognition Week

When faced with adversity, Trinacy Graham becomes inspired. On Monday, she was the phlebotomist taking care of our Governor’s blood donation. She worked the blood drive hosted by Governor and First Lady Beshear and then heard that two other blood drives needed help later that day. Instead of going home to rest, she traveled to those blood drives to lend a hand. On Wednesday, Trinacy committed to working 2 blood drives in the morning and afternoon to help her team.

The extra hours and physical demand are worth it in her eyes. “I love our mission. I think about it every day when I go into work. I love knowing that people will get to live another day because we are coming to work and doing what we do best,” said Trinacy. Trinacy is A- and has been a regular blood donor since she was 16. She began her Red Cross journey as a collections technician and worked her way up to charge nurse and is now a team supervisor.

Connecting with blood donors is more than just a job for Trinacy. “I take the blood shortages very personal. That’s where I operate best, and I portray that to my team… I tell them to think about the people in their lives who have needed blood,” she said. Her mother needed blood while giving birth to Trinacy. “My mom has received a lot of blood. She hemorrhaged bad during delivery, and she also has M.S. (multiple sclerosis), so she has gotten all kinds of treatment. I don’t think she would be here if she hadn’t received the blood she needed.”

It's easy to spot Trinacy at a blood drive, because of her welcoming presence. “I love our donors,” she said. “It gets me through a lot of the days; thinking about who is relying on us.” Her favorite blood drive to work is with Waystar. “All of the people there are awesome. It feels like a party. They cater and give us a break room, and they know how to make it a great day,” said Trinacy.

In her free time, Trinacy loves reading books, playing her instruments and video games. She plays the flute and clarinet. Her favorite games are Portal and Animal Crossing. Trinacy’s “favorite person in the world” is her son, Damien. She loves spending time with him and watching him grow.

This #PhlebotomistRecognitionWeek we want to say thank you to Trinacy for her leadership and commitment!

Erin Coleman - National Phlebotomists Recognition Week 2024

It’s never too late to make a career change! Erin Coleman was a baker and took an online assessment course. Phlebotomy was one of the career choices that fit her personality profile. “I decided to give it a shot,” said Erin. “I wanted to work for the Red Cross because I wanted to do something good and make a difference.”

She’s been on our team for 5 years as a Lead Collections Specialist. Erin’s coworkers describe her as hardworking, dependable, and kind. 

“We have really great staff. I love being out on the road with my coworkers,” said Erin. Donors enjoy having her as their phlebotomist as she makes the process easy and comfortable.

One of her favorite blood drives to work is in honor of a little boy fighting cancer. “I love to go to that drive and see the whole community come out to support him,” said Erin. It’s important for her to take every donor to help people in the hospital. “We need to get as many donors in as we can. I don’t ever want to turn anyone away. If someone comes in late, I’m going to take them… Blood is desperately needed,” said Erin.

Working the mobile blood drives can be taxing. “It’s a hard job. I don’t think people realize how physical it can be with loading and set up. It can be mentally and emotionally draining. But then you’ll see a donor who is so appreciative and takes the time to talk with you, and your whole day gets turned around,” said Erin.

Outside of work, Erin enjoys gaming, watching documentaries, and spending time with family. She truly loves her job and giving back to the community. “Our mission is to alleviate the suffering of others,” she said. “I find it really fulfilling and I enjoy my work.”

Thank you, Erin, for all you do! We are honored to recognize the contributions of our phlebotomists during Phlebotomists Recognition Week. This special week celebrates the role phlebotomists play in the collection of lifesaving blood products as well as the care they provide to donors during the donation process.

The Unspoken Battles of Sickle Cell Trait, Part 2

(Story continued from Part 1)

Yolanda Evans

Later in life, Yolanda found out she had a brother who also had sickle cell trait. “He died [by gunshot wound]. We found out the doctors could have saved him if they knew he had the trait. It’s an emotional rollercoaster,” she said.

Yolanda has taken her knowledge about sickle cell trait and become an advocate. She is Miss Bullitt Blast and uses her platform to educate. The Bullitt Blast pageant is in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, and part of the AmeriFest National Pageant system that inspires community service, leadership and building self-esteem.

Yolanda spoke about how managing sickle cell trait, having kids at a young age, and growing up in group homes gave her the opportunity to reach more people.  She emphasized the need to speak to multiracial families, saying, “The reality is that this is something that can happen to more than one race. It’s not just African Americans.”

Yolanda is Miss Bullitt Blast

With a passion for people to understand the disorder, Yolanda wants to continue giving back to her community. Her love for modeling and pageants has given her the confidence to be a positive influence. Yolanda plans to host a blood drive with the Red Cross and amplify the need for blood. “We all need to come together and be in a humility situation where we can help each other…Blood will save a life,” she reflected.

We are so thankful to Yolanda for being sincere and sharing her story. We encourage anyone who has the sickle cell trait to speak with their doctor about what it means for their health and family planning. The Red Cross is screening for sickle cell trait in blood donations for individuals who identify as multiracial, Black or African American. You can learn more here: Sickle Cell Trait Screening

The Unspoken Battles of Sickle Cell Trait, Part 1

Yolanda Evans

Yolanda Evans was born into devastating circumstances. “My mom gave me away at 2 weeks old. I was born in a group home with an elder lady, and I didn’t really know what was going on with me. I was sick a lot. My bones were fragile, and I was always falling and breaking them,” she said. Yolanda reflected on being at Kosair Children’s hospital throughout childhood.

It was after an accident in her teens that she was taken to the hospital and learned she had sickle cell trait. She left the hospital and never really thought about it or studied the disorder. Not to be confused with sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait is when a child inherits a normal gene and a sickle cell gene, according to the CDC. Sickle cell trait can never turn into sickle cell disease, but the trait can be passed down. A child can develop sickle cell disease if both parents have the trait.

Most people with sickle cell trait experience no symptoms, and that’s why it can go undetected. Yolanda is part of the rare group that does experience symptoms. “It was when I turned 15 and got pregnant that I started learning about the blood disorder,” said Yolanda, “Complications started coming. My son was born when I was 16 and he has sickle cell trait. I had my second child at the age of 18. They thought my daughter would be deformed from having sickle cell disease.”

Yolanda and her daughter

Yolanda underwent blood testing and the agony of waiting to hear about her daughter. “Thankfully, she didn’t have the disease. She also has the trait,” she said. “This is something that could have been very scary for my children. I was unaware.” Sickle cell trait testing at birth was not widely provided until 2006.

Yolanda experiences pain crises in the form of cramps and urinary tract infections. “Rest and staying hydrated helps. I tell people I have to sleep for 9 hours a day. Sometimes I schedule off with my job to rest. They know what’s going on and are supportive,” she said. She knows when a pain crisis is usually coming because her platelet count gets low.

In comparison, people with sickle cell disease have “bizarre pain. It almost feels like having a baby. It’s so bad you can’t tolerate it and need to go to the emergency room,” said Yolanda. Patients with sickle cell disease typically require blood transfusions to keep their blood from sickling.

Her connection to sickle cell unfortunately goes further. Yolanda had a childhood friend in her group home who died from sickle cell disease. “Her and I would always talk about the different things she was going through. I would relate to some of the pain. It makes me emotional. It’s something really dear to my heart,” said Yolanda.

(Story continues in Part 2)

35 Years of Service: Tammy Ritchie

Tammy with her grandchild

You can’t mention the Red Cross Blood Services in Kentucky without thinking about Tammy Ritchie. In many ways, the Red Cross and Tammy have grown up together. Tammy started with us as in her early 20’s. Her coworkers have seen her during times of milestones and celebrations; and grief and tragedies. We watched Tammy help her daughter, Shelby, through her first pregnancy and birth. We saw her elated when her son, Brandon, married his perfect match. We helped start the relationship with her best friend, Keith Wedding. He was a valued team member for 20 years before he passed suddenly in 2019. We supported her through mourning when her parents passed away within a few years of each other.

Our story began with Tammy in 1988. “I came to give blood for my dad. He needed open heart surgery… They asked for all his kids to come and donate blood for him; anyone that was his type. It was the first time I ever donated,” said Tammy. The nurse on staff asked what Tammy did for work. At that point, she was working at Jewish Hospital. The nurse encouraged her to come to Red Cross and she agreed. After her experience with her dad, she became a regular blood donor.

“I started out as a phlebotomist on the collections team and drew blood. I was in that position for about a year. I came to the Donor Resources Department and ran the call center… From there, I came into the role I’m in now, as an Account Manager,” said Tammy. Her job is to go out into the community and set up blood drives with churches, community leaders, businesses, etc. and educate about the need for blood.

Tammy with her husband
and grandchildren

Unfortunately, Tammy also knows what it’s like to be on the other side of donating blood. She had a scary morning after recovering from a routine surgery. “I woke up one morning fatigued and lifeless… I was a direct admit in the hospital after my doctor saw me. My hemoglobin was low. Because I worked for the Red Cross, I knew there was a need for blood, and I was nervous… Since we are on a national system for blood, we got the blood there in time. The blood was the medicine I needed,” Tammy reflected. She later found out she has a rare blood disease that destroys her blood cells.

It’s been 35 years, and Tammy is still a pillar for us. “I can go to bed and put my head on my pillow and say: I helped save lives today,” she said. As for her team? They consider her a compassionate and loving coworker. “She’s like our work mom. She’s a great team player and she is always there when we need her,” said Brooke Lee, Account Manager.

“Tammy is the epitome of historical expertise for our team. Every organization needs that person who brings knowledge of the legacy created. Tammy is that for us and she sets the standard high. She is also a kind and empathetic person,” said Pam Greer-Ullrich, Account Manager. Tammy views her team as incredible, and she loves the supportive environment. “We cover for each other, everything is focused on our hospital partners and meeting their patient’s needs. That is our job every day,” she said.

Her mission is to let people know the ways we save lives. “The Red Cross is called upon during times of disaster. We have a wonderful relationship with the military. We are all hands-on deck when the community needs blood,” said Tammy.

Atlanta Born, Louisville Inspired: Dr. Ricky Jones, Part 1

 

L to R: Kerry Norwood, Dr. Ricky Jones

When Kerry Norwood was a child, doctors did not think he would live past 16 years old. He was born with sickle cell disease and missed a lot of school due to being ill. Growing up in Atlanta, Kerry befriended Ricky Jones in 8^th grade. “He was nice to me. We lived in adjacent neighborhoods and played in the band together,” said Ricky.

That’s when Ricky started to learn about sickle cell disease. “I was a kid. I didn’t know anything about it. Because of Kerry, I learned about the disease and how it impacts people,” said Ricky. Kerry and Ricky have been lifelong friends ever since. They mean the world to each other. They are family.

September is Kerry’s birthday and sickle cell awareness month. Kerry celebrated his 56^th birthday last year, despite what doctors feared. Ricky is now Dr. Ricky L. Jones, Professor at the University of Louisville. Baldwin-King Scholar-in-Residence at the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute and past chair of the Pan-African Studies Department.

A few years ago, Ricky spoke with the Red Cross about doing a blood drive specifically for sickle cell disease. “As Kerry aged, he has needed more blood transfusions. Sometimes it would be difficult for him to get access to blood,” Ricky said. “I said: you know, there are people going through this all over the country. It would be cool if we could do something targeting just sickle cell.” The Red Cross didn’t have their sickle cell initiative program at that time, so in many ways, Ricky created this idea and let it grow.

Ricky originated the Pan-African studies sickle cell blood drive at the University of Louisville. It’s hosted around Kerry’s birthday every year. “We are trying to do a little bit to help people struggling with the disease. It disproportionately affects African Americans or African descended people. But a lot of people don’t know that,” said Ricky.

Dr. Ricky Jones

How does he recruit blood donors on campus and in the community? “I tell my story. I make it personal,” Ricky said. He shares about his friendship with Kerry and offers extra credit for donating blood. Ricky’s message is inspiring because it’s vulnerable and raw: “Think about the people around you who you love most in this world. What if they needed blood because of some accident or some disease they are suffering from. How would you feel if there was no blood available?”

(Story continues in Part 2)

Student Blood Donor Encourages Others to Give Back

The University of Louisville has a rising star among their freshman class in Keegan Merrifield. Keegan started helping with the Jeffersonville High School blood drives during his freshman year. “I had this one teacher I had known since 7th grade. She was hosting the blood drives at school, and I started asking her questions about it… She offered for me to work and sign people in,” said Keegan. “And she said, you can donate too.”

Keegan at his graduation

Jeffersonville High School has a student led blood drive program through their InterACT club. The club is designed for the students to serve their school and community and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clark County, IN. The club has over 100 active students engaging in recycling, food donations and leadership opportunities.

The first time Keegan donated blood, he was understandably nervous. “The Red Cross nurses were incredibly kind. All the nurses I have met have been,” said Keegan. “I sat there on my phone for about five minutes. It amazed me. I thought ‘this small thing is going to help 3 people.” He went on to say how easy and quick it was, and how it’s a form of community service.

“This is community service but it’s a different type. For this, you give your time and your body. It’s something you can’t make. Ever since then, it has stuck with me. I’ve been advocating to my family and friends saying, ‘you all have to do this,” said Keegan. Throughout his high school career, he volunteered at the blood drives checking donors in and greeting them. He also made it his personal goal to hit 1 gallon of blood donated before high school graduation.

Keegan achieved his goal of donating 1 gallon and is now looking forward to his future. He is a UofL Speed School Engineering student. One of his criteria for choosing a school was knowing the institution had a partnership with Red Cross. We were able to speak with Keegan’s mom, Crystal Merrifield, about her son and his servant’s heart.

“He’s always just made us proud. He’s always been a kindhearted and giving type of individual… [Red Cross] has become part of who he is. He takes me with him to donate blood. I don’t always have the iron levels to give, but when I can, he cheers me on… He’s known for a long time he wants to be an engineer- but this is his heart passion,” said Crystal. She went on to say that she loves that he has found his passion at such a young age.

In high school, Keegan was part of the National Honor Society and a member of marching and pep band. He plays the trumpet and is now a member of the UofL pep band. “It’s kind of bittersweet. It’s sad I [had to] leave high school, but I know things will only get better at UofL. I will meet new people; it will be a new environment. I will grow,” said Keegan.

Keegan and his family

Join Keegan this holiday season by giving blood at our Holiday Hero Donorama Blood Drive blood drive Dec. 26-27 at the UAW Local 862 Union Hall in Louisville. Your donation may give patients more time – and more holidays – with loved ones. Make your appointment by visiting rcblood.org/2RfRf7r, downloading the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

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

National Blood Collectors Week: Savannah Stayton

 

Fun fact: Savannah Stayton is the youngest collections employee on our staff! She is 20 years old and has already been promoted to Charge Nurse during her year and a half with us.

Savannah volunteered with the Red Cross blood drives at Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) High School in Louisville. She spoke with a staff member about becoming an employee. “I was part of the nursing program at PRP. I feel like it prepared me for having a job in healthcare and taught me how to work with people with different personalities,” said Savannah.

Savannah describes the team culture as “one big family,” and loves knowing that she is making a difference. Her favorite blood drive memory is working the “Briar’s Blessings” blood drive in Indiana. It’s hosted by a mom who lost her baby in the hospital. “She had an impact on me, because she told me her story of being in the hospital,” said Savannah. The mother had concealed placental abruption, and her baby was born via C-section the following day. The baby could not be saved, and the mother survived due to receiving various blood transfusions.

“Everyone in the community came out to donate. It was so exciting to be part of. We cried together about three times that day. She told me that she wants me at the blood drive every year,” said Savanna. Outside of work, Savanna enjoys babysitting and spending time with the kids in her family. She is often with her friends and family at the lake or a cookout.

Thank you for your lifesaving work, Savanna! #NationalBloodCollectorsWeek

National CPR and AED Awareness Week

Jeff Backus is a Red Cross volunteer blood donor ambassador and medical screener with the Louisville Area Chapter. As a screener, he is one of the volunteers who takes a blood donor’s demographic information, does their medical screening and asks health history questions when they donate blood. When he’s not volunteering, Jeff advocates for the importance of CPR.

After surviving two cardiac arrests thanks to the quick action and compassion of strangers, Jeff knows firsthand the importance of being CPR trained: "I tell people to learn CPR, because the life you save may be mine.”

In 2014, Jeff was running in Cherokee Park in Louisville when he went into cardiac arrest and collapsed.

“There was an ER nurse who had been out running, training for the Ironman, who came up on me," Jeff explained. The nurse gave Jeff hands-only CPR for 20 minutes until the EMT’s arrived and were able to take Jeff to the hospital. Hands-Only CPR is CPR performed without rescue breaths. Thanks to the nurse’s quick action, Jeff recovered and ran a half-marathon just a year after his cardiac arrest.

Then, five years later in 2019, Jeff was out running again in Cherokee Park when he collapsed for a second time. This time, a group of high school boys responded.

"They called 911 and the 911 operator talked them through giving me [hands-only] CPR until the EMTs could get there,” said Jeff. “That was one more serious. They said they shocked me 11 times in the ambulance and six times in the ER."

Despite a few setbacks, things are going well now for Jeff. He recently took a First Aid/CPR certification course through the Red Cross and now advocates for hands-only CPR training. He has been involved with the American Heart Association and has advocated for 911 operators being trained in how to walk people through hands-only CPR.

“Hands-only CPR is so easy to learn,” said Jeff. "I think it gives people the ability to respond faster. It empowers you. If you know what to do, if you have the knowledge, there's a lot less panicking.”

With a half-million cardiac arrests each year, CPR and hands-only CPR can help save a life if a person's breathing or heart stops. CPR can double or triple the chance of survival when bystanders take action. Learn more about hands-only CPR here.