News Release May 5, 2008

Contact:
Julie Scott

303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

Blood Recipient to Meet Life-Saving Donors

Donors, staff and friends celebrate Community Lifelines May 15

DENVER (May 5, 2008) – Spring is a time of growth, renewal and new beginnings. More than one year after being diagnosed with rare blood disorder, 40-year-old father of two, Kevin Malpocker is set to celebrate his own new beginning at Bonfils Blood Center’s annual Community Lifelines event on Thursday, May 15 beginning at 1 p.m. on the Plaza Terrace at the Belmar Center at 405 S. Teller Street in Lakewood, Colo.

Last spring, Malpocker was diagnosed with idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a disorder that was destroying his red blood cells. Between March and August 2007 he was in and out of three hospitals. He spent more than two months undergoing treatment at Parker Adventist Hospital along with shorter stays at two other Denver Metro area hospitals. Over the course of his illness, Malpocker required five surgeries and more than 80 blood transfusions across the three facilities.

In addition to remarks from the Parker Adventist Hospital physicians – Doug Reznick, MD and Chris Winter, MD – who diagnosed and treated him, Malpocker will get the chance to meet and thank dozens of blood donors whose donations helped save his life at Bonfils’ 10th annual Community Lifelines event.

“I am grateful to all blood donors, without whom I would not be alive,” says Malpocker who today enjoys spending time at home or on dirt bike trails with his wife and their two sons.

All of the more than 80 units of blood Malpocker received were from Bonfils’ donors and more than 70 of those units were transfused throughout his treatment Parker Adventist Hospital. Malpocker received six units at University of Colorado Hospital in April and four at The Medical Center of Aurora in August.

Bonfils’ partnership with Parker Adventist Hospital began when the hospital opened in 2004. Since that time, Bonfils has provided more than 5,100 blood products for the benefit of patients in need. The blood center’s partnerships with University of Colorado Hospital and The Medical Center of Aurora span 65 years and 34 years respectively.

About Parker Adventist Hospital
Parker Adventist Hospital opened in 2004 and is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest healthcare provider. By providing whole person care that treats both medical and spiritual needs, Parker Hospital offers a healing atmosphere where patients feel safe and comfortable. By combining medical skills and compassionate touch, Parker Hospital creates a healing environment that addresses the needs of the mind, body and spirit.

About Bonfils Blood Center
Bonfils Blood Center celebrates 65 years of saving lives through its ongoing stewardship of the community blood supply and the instrumental role it continues to play in the lives of patients in need throughout Colorado and beyond. Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood to more than 200 healthcare facilities and needs to collect more than 4,000 blood donations weekly to meet the needs of the community and to be prepared for any unexpected events. For information about Bonfils Blood Center please call 303.366.2000 or visit www.bonfils.org.