I was the fortunate recipient of blood transfusions while I was going through aggressive chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer. My family and I are forever grateful for the transfusions that possibly saved my life.
I was on a summer vacation in PEI with my family. I awoke on our first morning there and felt a little unwell. I had my routine chemo bloodwork booked at the local hospital that morning. By the time I arrived, I was a serious medical emergency. I was quickly placed in a room and blood was drawn STAT. I had pancytopenia and I was declining quickly. Pancytopenia is a condition where your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are too low. Mine were extremely low and I had an unknown infection taking over my body. It was a scary time for our family. We had to call our parents who were in NB and they came over that afternoon. We didn't know how or if I would respond to treatment.
I was admitted and treated with IV antibiotics and received 2 blood transfusions. Within hours of receiving lifesaving treatments, I began to improve slowly but surely. I spent 5 days in the lovely Summerside Hospital and was grateful for the amazing staff who treated me and to the amazing donors that helped me at my scariest moments in life. Thank you to all that donate, you are appreciated more than you'll ever know.
