An Ayrshire family have thanked blood donors for helping their little girl to lead a healthy life after she need multiple lifesaving blood transfusions as a new-born.
Stephanie and Kenny Armstrong, from Prestwick, have shared their one-year-old daughter Hannah’s incredible survival story in the hope it will encourage others to donate blood this Christmas and beyond.
Hannah was born prematurely at 34 weeks in October last year weighing just 5lbs.
Due to being born with Haemolytic disease of the new-born, Hannah required lots of treatment, including two full blood exchanges and four top up transfusions in the weeks after she was born.
In a powerful online video, mum Stephanie, 36, said: “We were told that a blood exchange was very rare.
“It’s a very long process. We couldn’t get in to see her during that time.
“She was so exhausted and then when she got the bloods, you would get a little bit of activity out of her.”
Stephanie and Kenny, who are also parents to three-year-old Alice, have teamed up with The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) in a bid to encourage others to give blood and help keep blood stocks topped up over the festive period.
Dad Kenny, 38, said: “Before Hannah, I’d have found excuses to delay things and not give blood.
“But when you really need it, it needs to be there.
“If it wasn’t there, she [Hannah] would not be this healthy wee bag of fun.
“Last year was a horrible Christmas because Hannah was very ill, but it’s going to be the opposite this year, and it’s because of all the help we got.”
Kenny added that SNBTS are on the hunt for more group bookings, with companies encouraged to sign up to the service’s corporate blood collection programme. Donors could also book in with friends, colleagues, or their club.
He said: “I work for Barclays in Glasgow, and I am proud my workplace is Glasgow Donor Centre's biggest corporate supporter.
“Seventy-one of my colleagues gave blood at Glasgow donor centre last week.
“As each donation can be split into three separate parts (red cells platelets and plasma), this means my Barclays colleagues have saved or improved the lives of up to 213 patients in Scotland.
“I know SNBTS are looking for more companies to join this initiative, and I hope seeing the difference blood donors have made to my family can motivate many more companies to participate.”
Stephanie added: “I want to thank anyone who donated blood because one donation can help up to three people, which is a lot of little Hannahs.”
Ayrshire residents can give blood at selected sessions by appointment next week and into January.
Ayrshire festive sessions are as follows:
December 26: Maybole– The Carrick Centre (Boxing Day)
December 28, 29 and 30: Ayr– Belmont Academy
January 3: Kilmarnock- The Grand Hall
January 9: Cumnock- Town Hall
For available times and to book an appointment, click here. Register to give blood here.
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