Krista Shiell admits she couldn't have done it alone. At one time, 48 people helped to save her life and none of which she ever met.
She began volunteering by giving out cookies and juice with the K-W Blood Donor Clinic after a brush with death.
Six years ago this Easter Sunday, Shiell ended up in the hospital with severe internal injuries after an unoccupied truck rolled back and pinned her against a garage.
"Because of the trauma to my abdomen, my liver swelled and ripped. I had a double lobe liver laceration which led to a hemorrhage." Shiell recalls.
Doctors gave her a five per cent chance of survival. She bled out six times and needed 48 units of blood to save her life.
"I don't know their names. I don't know their faces but I can thank everybody who donates blood here on behalf of the person who is going to benefit from their time and from their gift." Shiell says as she encourages others to give.
The Canadian Blood Services says its always in need and according to a recent poll, 52 per cent of Canadians say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment.
"In the next two weeks, just at K-W Blood Donor Clinic we need over 660 units of blood," Tara Gutscher, a Community Development Coordinator with Canadian Blood Services says, "that 660 different people to come in and donate blood at the time right now. We still have almost 400 open appointments."
Holiday weekends like Easter are traditionally a time when blood donations decrease because people travel or get busy with other activities. The K-W Blood Donor Clinic is asking people to bring a friend and donate.
