“If your life has been touched by organ or blood donation, and you have the ability to give back, why wouldn’t you?”

When Josette Saia was 13, her mother received her first of two kidney transplants. Unfortunately, her body rejected the first kidney but the second lasted until her mother passed away ten years later. “It was great that my mom was no longer confined to dialysis three times a week, “ Josette said. Her mother’s experience inspired her to become an organ and blood donor.

“Before the organ donor registry existed, I always signed the back of my driver’s license,” Josette explained. “I also talked to my family so they would know what I wanted if something happened to me.”

Josette started donating blood at her church’s lawn fete one year. When she saw a mobile blood drive set up at the fete, she decided to donate on a whim. Ever since then, she has donated at the same lawn fete every year and at many other local blood drives. Over the past six months, Josette has also become a regular platelet donor the Southgate Neighborhood Donation Center.  Josette’s sister and niece are also regular donors.

“Donating blood is painless, doesn’t take any time at all, and helps so many people,” she said. “Lately I’ve been thinking about volunteering at blood drives, too. I think that if your life has been touched by organ or blood donation, and you have the ability to give back, why wouldn’t you? You never know when you or a member of your family may need a transfusion.”

It’s easy to become an organ, tissue or blood donor! Click here  to find out how to become an organ and tissue donor, and click here for a list of our community blood donation centers.