Andrea Thompson
In February 2004, Andrea Thompson gave birth to her second child, a healthy daughter named Lilly, but shortly afterwards it was obvious that something was seriously wrong.
"I was unable to deliver the placenta. So, even though my doctors tried to be reassuring, it was obvious that something was wrong and I felt weak, tired and just not right. Plus, I was losing lots and lots of blood," said Andrea.
Shortly afterward, Andrea was rushed into surgery. She doesn't remember much other than being rolled into an elevator and hearing someone say they needed to call the blood bank.
While in surgery for Placenta Accrete, a condition where the placenta attaches to the uterine wall, Andrea's situation got worse. Her blood wouldn't clot. An eight-hour surgery to correct the situation failed, and she continued to lose blood.
"They continued to give me blood, but I would bleed it out. The doctors prepared my family for the fact that they didn't think I would live," said Andrea. "Later they told me that only about 10 percent of the women in my situation survive."
Finally, an experimental drug and a second surgery stopped the bleeding. In all, Andrea had needed 28 units of blood to survive. It was a long, difficult recovery, but today Andrea is doing well.
"Words are not sufficient to express my gratitude to those who gave their blood so I could live. These donors allowed me to survive to see my newborn daughter and to see my first child turn two," said Andrea. "Today, I feel such a sense of gratitude to the doctors, nurses and blood donors who saved my life. Now I just want to give back to the people who helped save me. Thank you."