Kris Nordstrom McBride Needed a Transfusion “Now”

From www.giveblood.org/circulation - Fall 2004
I celebrated my 50th birthday January 2002,dancing the night away with family and friends at a wonderful surprise party. On the way home, I casually remarked to my husband that dancing all night at 50 was certainly more exhausting then when we did the same at 40.

It was only later in the year that I began to pay attention to the fact that "tired" had turned to "exhausted". "Talk to the Doc next visit," I thought, and continued on, more run down and feeling less like myself each passing day.

I was in charge of our Rotary Club's summer blood drive. I dutifully took my turn to give blood, only to be turned away for anemia. I wrote it off one more time to age and stress.

Then, on New Year's Day 2003, I started up the stairs at my home. By the time I reached the top, my heart was pounding. I thought I was having a heart attack. I sat down to rest. It was almost two hours before I could get up. This got my attention. The next afternoon I went to my family practitioner. Blood tests revealed my hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying molecules in the blood, was below five. I was told "low normal" is nine, and,

"Your heart could stop at any moment. You need a blood transfusion now." That evening I was at the hospital receiving two units of blood. It takes much longer to RECEIVE blood than it does to GIVE blood.

We increased my iron, I cut my work hours but was still tired, confused and depressed. I went back to the doctor. We would try one more procedure. When I walked into the day surgery clinic, the nurse met me at the door. "Change of plans Mrs. McBride. Your hemoglobin is under five again. We can't put you under anesthetic. You could die." I received another four units of blood.

I had a complete hysterectomy shortly thereafter. My problems are over, and I feel like a new person. You would certainly not have thought I was as sick as I was. I looked bad, but I wasn't an accident victim. I didn't have cancer or an incurable disease. I was a woman, whose body was edging itself towards menopause. I was dealing with issues so many women my age deal with. And yet, I could have died, twice. The blood transfusions made a lifesaving difference.