Blood Donations Needed Throughout Holiday Season

A local woman who found herself re-organizing her priorities due to a serious disease is now urging blood and organ donations this holiday season.

"I was diagnosed with poly cystic liver disease, which is very rare," said Teresa Dixon.  "My liver grew to be about 28 pounds."

Dixon underwent surgery just before Thanksgiving in 2009.  She's had a few medical issues, but is doing well these days.  Her holiday routine has changed dramatically since that surgery.

"It completely resets your priority list to have a transplant," Dixon said as she looked at family photos.  "That this is what I did this for." 

Dixon is also grateful for the donated blood she received as part of the procedure. 

Dr. John Duffy, a transplant surgeon at Integris Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute, realizes the need for not only donated organs , but blood and blood products that are crucial to transplant procedures.

"Donating blood allows patients to receive all these products which can help save their lives and make transplantation possible," Duffy said.  "Blood is always needed whenever we're doing our work."

And Duffy sees blood and organ donations as an essential part of a healthy society, especially during the holiday season.

"It's truly a community effort.  And everything we do is basically community donated," said Duffy.  "All we're doing is taking what the community is giving and putting it to good use."  

News 9 is teaming up with the Oklahoma Blood Institute and Bank of Oklahoma for a holiday blood drive at the News 9 studios Monday, December 19th, from 11:30 to 6:30.  All donors will be entered to win a thousand dollar gift card.