Local donors and recipients highlight lifesaving impact of blood donations

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Central California Blood Center is encouraging residents to donate blood to help provide life-saving care for local patients in need.

For Juanita Garcia, blood donations have had a direct impact on her life.

"Two times in my life, I'm thankful that I'm here standing today, being able to talk about it," Garcia said.

MORE INFO: Pint for a Pint Blood Drive at Central California Blood Center

The first transfusion came when she was a child. The second was years later when she experienced life-threatening complications during the birth of her premature daughter.

"All I know is that I was throwing up. I was bleeding all at the same time. I couldn't breathe. I was passed out and my sister driving me to the hospital," Garcia said.

Her daughter was born weighing 2 pounds and remained hospitalized for about 30 days.

RELATED: Local mother honors son's memory by encouraging blood donations during Pint for a Pint blood drive

"I needed blood at that time, and I'm just glad that someone donated and had my blood type," Garcia said.

Today, Garcia's daughter is grown and healthy.

Stories like Garcia's motivate donors such as Eliseo Zepada, who recently reached his 200th platelet donation. He said his next goal is 300 donations.

Zepada began donating whole blood in 2002 and switched to platelet donations about a decade ago after the loss of a neighbor's young son.

"I still had fresh in my memory my neighbor losing a five-year-old son to leukemia, and I heard about children needing it, and it was a no-brainer for me," Zepada said.

The Central California Blood Center is promoting its Pint for a Pint blood drive.

Donors who give a pint of blood receive a free pint of Umpqua ice cream. One blood donation can help save up to three lives.

"The only way you get blood is from another human being. It can't be made. Can't be produced. It's got to come from the heart as well," Zepada said. "And what does it do? It saves lives. And that's the main goal."

People can donate at Central California Blood Center locations in Fresno, Visalia and Clovis. Appointments can be scheduled at DonateBlood.org.

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