Thankful heart transplant recipient extols virtues of blood donation

At just 34 years old, Gwendolyn Westlund's body has been through more than what most people experience in a lifetime. The Willowbrook resident has overcome a life-threatening bout with cancer, heart failure, multiple cardiac surgeries and a heart transplant.

Through it all, though, Gwendolyn has kept an exceptionally positive attitude and now makes it her life's mission to help others.

With a new heart and the promise it brings, Gwendolyn is partnering with LifeSource during National Blood Donor Month in January, encouraging those who have never done so to donate and asking current donors to increase their number of donations in 2016.

Individuals in need of lifesaving surgical procedures like Gwendolyn, who required 30 units of blood to survive the first round of surgeries before she was even listed for a heart transplant two years ago, rely on the support of blood donors throughout the year.

Since 1970, January has been designated as National Blood Donor Month to encourage donors to give or pledge to give. Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to holiday, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood donations and can result in increased need and decreased donations.

"Having been pulled back from death multiple times, I know it's my journey and purpose to pay it forward," said Westlund, who was married just a year before her heart transplant surgery in October 2013. "To me, it all starts with blood. Blood donations saved my life as much as the heart transplant. With my recycled life, I hope to raise awareness for the constant need for blood."

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Frequent volunteer blood donors ensure that blood is ready - collected and tested - and available year-round whenever and wherever it is needed.

A common misunderstanding about blood usage is that accident victims are the patients who use the most blood. Actually, people who receive the most blood include those being treated for cancer, undergoing orthopedic surgeries, undergoing organ and marrow transplants, undergoing cardiovascular surgeries and those being treated for inherited blood disorders.

Statistics show that 1 in every 7 people entering the hospital needs blood, with more than 40,000 pints being transfused every day. And while the whole blood donation process takes about 45 minutes, less than 10 percent of the population eligible to donate blood does so annually.

LifeSource operates 18 community donor centers in the city and suburbs. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are always welcome. In preparation for their donation, donors are asked to eat well, stay hydrated and arrive with proper identification. Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (or 16 years old with parental consent) and bring proper identification.

To schedule an appointment, contact LifeSource at (877) 543-3768, or visit www.lifesource.org.