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It’s a Match!

My email inbox fills regularly with requests for donations, and for the most part, the requests are financial. Last week, however, the special donations department at Stanford Blood Center contacted me with a truly special request:

September 11, 2025, Stanford Blood Center, Campbell

Hi Alys, 
We are reaching out to you today in the hopes you would be available to donate for a particular patient who has specific transfusion needs and with whom you are compatible. Not only does your ABO/Rh match this patient, but your red cell antigen phenotypes are also a match.

How do you say no to that? I confirmed my eligibility to give (I’m seven months post-hip surgery), and they said yes. I booked the appointment for September 11 and donated my pint in a record five minutes. It also happened to be my 25th blood donation at Stanford.

In 2022, Stanford sent an email confirming that through two separate blood donations,

December, 2022, Stanford Blood Center, Campbell

they were able to verify that the combination of blood groups you have is, in fact, rare and will be particularly essential for supporting patients with your same blood group profile! Though this rare typing program is still in its early stages, we expect to be able to share more with you in the coming months via your online donor portal.

Three years later, I made my first blood donation match.

I’ve thought a lot about the anonymous patient with ongoing transfusion needs, and how remarkable it is for both giver and receiver that we have the technology to pinpoint blood components to this impressive degree. 

It’s life-affirming knowing that my whole blood donation will make a difference.

23 thoughts on “It’s a Match!”

  8. As you know, when you donate blood, you have to sign a form, indicating you’re aware that ultimately your blood may not be used for a variety of reasons.

    It must be nice to know that this donation will definitely be used. Way to go! From now on, I’m calling you ABO/Rh.

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  9. Oh Wow! I would feel so privileged to be able to do that. I am a regular blood donor and looked into going on the bone marrow register but was already too old. My late husband had lymphatic cancer and needed blood products at various times so I always think of it as passing on the kindness he received and paying it forward in case I ever need a transfusion.

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  10. Alys, this is wonderful! I donate regularly, yoo, but have not heard of the rare typing program. This makes your already generous commitment to blood donation, even better!! XO

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  11. What you are doing is so selfless Alys. My father in law had leukaemia and needed transfusions, so I know firsthand how much of a difference donors make. Thank you for giving someone else that same gift of hope.

    Sara (Birdz of a Feather)

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  12. Alys, dear heart, I have always known that you are a very special person. What a wonderful gift of health and life you have given… 25 times!! You truly make a difference, my friend! Heartfelt thanks for being YOU!! ♥️ Dawn

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