Recipient Stories

Grace Marie Koontz was diagnosed with leukemia shortly before her first birthday.  Throughout her treatment, Grace required numerous blood transfusions and a marrow/cord blood transplant.  Thanks to blood donors, Grace is now a healthy and active four year old.

“Thank you for helping my daughter survive cancer.  Each blood transfusion gave Grace’s body a boost during chemotherapy and marrow/cord blood transplant; it kept her alive.” — Jeanine Koontz, Grace’s mother

Megan Goutell knows firsthand the importance of blood donation. Megan experienced life-threatening complications after giving birth to her baby which required her to receive eight units of donated blood. Today, Megan is living life to the fullest and enjoying every minute with her daughter, Hanna, and husband, John.

“I’m grateful those eight units of blood were at my hospital that morning and I know firsthand what they meant. I also know a lot more about the difficult work that must occur so that the blood can be there ready to save lives 24 hours a day.” — Megan

LaDonna Reed experienced complications when she was 22 weeks pregnant that required intrauterine blood transfusions through the umbilical cord to help save her and her baby’s life. Today, LaDonna is healthy and loving every moment that she spends with her daughters, eight year old, Shantae, and four year old, Jolay.

“By the kind hearts of donors my baby survived after four blood transfusions that carried me to deliver a healthy baby girl named Shantae Reed.” — LaDonna

Moe Yauk was stricken with myelodysplastic syndrome, a condition that affected his bone marrow and required him to receive nearly 60 blood transfusions over a one-year period. Thanks to dedicated donors, like you, Moe is able to spend time with his family and be active in his church and local optimist club.

“I am very thankful to Bonfils Blood Center and blood donors for saving my life.”

— Moe