Our Red Cross Story: The Jokl Family

 By Sandy Habib, Red Cross Volunteer

In 2014 and early 2015, Lee and Kirsten Jokl were excited soon-to-be, first-time parents. By all accounts, Kirsten’s pregnancy was normal until early February 2015, when their son Elin was born six weeks prematurely. While being born so early can pose a huge challenge on its own, it was just the beginning of a slew of surgeries and procedures that Elin would soon face. 

Doctors quickly discovered that he was born with a blockage in his small intestine. At just 16 hours old, Elin underwent his first surgery. His medical team identified a blockage and removed the perforated section, thinking Elin’s problems were solved. Ten days later and still in the hospital, Elin’s body was fighting an infection in his bloodstream and became septic due to another blockage that doctors hadn’t previously discovered. He was then rushed to the Johns Hopkins Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where he received his first Red Cross blood transfusion. Within days, he needed another surgery and with it, another blood transfusion.

Elin Jokl underwent his first of five surgeries just 16 hours after he was born.

Professionally, Kirsten is a Senior Physician Assistant in the Adult Emergency Department at Johns Hopkins Hospital. This enabled the couple to be highly involved in nearly every aspect of Elin’s care. A large part of his care at the time included ongoing blood transfusions. Lee discussed options with Johns Hopkins and the Red Cross; the team approved a plan that enabled Lee to donate lifesaving blood that went straight to his son, known as a “directed donation.”

After six blood transfusions, five surgeries and nearly three months in the NICU, Elin was finally able to go home in late April 2015. Since then, Lee, Kirsten, and Elin welcomed another addition to the family, Eva, born in 2017, and they are all happy and healthy. Elin knows the story of his early months and shows off his prominent belly scars as badges of honor. He is currently busy preparing for another proud moment, his first day of kindergarten.

Elin Jokl is ready for his next milestone: kindergarten.

Meanwhile, Lee has been doing what he can to build awareness for the critical – and constant – need for blood donors. He works at T. Rowe Price, a large financial services firm, and helped support regular on-site blood drives prior to COVID-19; he is eager to continue these workplace drives once it is safe to do so.

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“Giving blood really is one of the easiest, most selfless things someone can do to have a huge, positive impact on another person. It means so much, as we know very personally.”

- Kirsten Jokl

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He stays engaged with the Red Cross as a Board Member for the Central Maryland Chapter. The Board promotes the need for financial and blood donations in the local community, among other organizational priorities that support the Red Cross mission. The group recently participated in Central Maryland’s August “Run for the Red,” a virtual race through which runners secured sponsorships and donations that went to the Red Cross. Lee participated in the inaugural event “Run for the Red” and enjoyed the experience and sharing his accomplishment with friends and family on social media. 

Elin is healthy today in large part because of the generosity of blood donors and the Red Cross. Based on their experience with the Red Cross, Lee and Kirsten are all too happy to give back and encourage others to do the same.

The happy Jokl family today.

 

Lee explains, “I greatly appreciate anyone who takes time out of their day to donate blood, as well as the Red Cross for getting it to those in need. It was a huge process to get Elin all the blood he needed in those early months and I’m eternally grateful for all that the Red Cross did to partner with the hospital and help save Elin’s life. He wouldn’t be here today without all that.” 

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Give the gift of life by rolling up your sleeve and donating blood today – you can save up to three lives with every selfless donation. 

Make an appointment here: https://www.redcrossblood.org

Blood Donation 101

By Carly Flumer, Volunteer

Imgine yur helth cre eing delyed ecuse yur bld type ws missing frm hspitl shelves. That sentence was kind of hard to decipher, right? Well, it highlights the three main blood types, A, B, and O, that are always in need. And right now, there’s simply not enough people donating. The Miller-Keystone Blood Center cites the Top 10 Excuses for Not Donating Blood, with the number one reason being afraid of needles.

Past blood donors have mentioned that they “only felt a pinch.” Plus, the good that you’re doing by donating a pint, including saving up to three lives, easily outweighs the tiny prick. However, if you’re still not convinced, the American Red Cross’s Red Cross Chat has a blog post dedicated to “How to Donate Blood for Newbies and Needle-Haters.” Another reason is people believe that their blood type isn’t in demand.

While it’s true that blood centers often run short of types A, B, and O, all blood types are accepted, including plasma and platelets.

Now are you ready to give? Great! Here’s how to do so:

1) First, you must:

• Be in good health/feeling well
• Be at least 17 years old (16 in some states with parental consent)
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Have not donated within the last 56 days.

2) Find your nearest blood drive location by going to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive.

3) When you arrive, you will be asked to read some information as well as provide a photo ID.

4) You will then be asked to answer questions online or in a private interview and receive a health check.

5) After, you will be seated comfortably for your donation where a pint of blood will be drawn. It will take approximately 8-10 minutes.

6) After donating, you may enjoy a drink and a snack for about 10-15 minutes before returning to the rest of your day.

7) Your blood is then tested and sent to a patient in need! If you donate through the Blood Donor App, you will be able to track your blood's journey!

To learn more about what happens with your donated blood, please visit: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/what-happens-to-donated-blood.html

We thank you for your donation!

Donating Blood - Simple as 1,2,3!

By Hailie Duenkel, Volunteer

Undoubtedly, you are somewhat familiar with the American Red Cross and the blood donation program, and chances are you have given blood once in your life. This was probably done by the Red Cross coming to your school or workplace, and you most likely haven’t thought much about it since.

This summer, the Red Cross is teaming up with brands like G__gle, P_yP_l, and D_min_’s, to spread the word on the #MissingType movement to help the public take notice of the ongoing need for blood donors. As you can see, the A’s, B’s, and O’s are missing from these name brands, along with other celebrities and influential companies in order to display the vital role a single blood donor makes. A single blood donation can save up to three lives!

Following World War II, the Red Cross presented the first ever United States civilian blood drive platform, which now is responsible for over 40 percent of all blood donation in the country. By donating, you are joining thousands of volunteers and decades of history in making a difference in countless lives.

Universal History Archive/UIG—Getty Images

Unfortunately, many people do not know how to donate blood on their own outside of a sponsored blood drive. There are more than 600 Red Cross chapters in the United States, with more than 500,000 volunteers, and 35,000 employees ready to assist you in the selfless process of giving blood. To find a location near you, visit the Red Cross website and you will find several blood donation centers in your area. 

Common reasons people give for not donating are shortage on time, fear of needles and not understanding what happens during the donation process. Below are steps on what to expect your first time giving blood:

• Registration: A Red Cross employee will ask for a form of ID and go over the basic process and eligibility. 
• Health History: An employee will ask questions regarding your health history, medications taken, places traveled, etc. They will then do an exam where they will take your temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin level to determine if you are in proper health to donate.
• The Donation Process: An employee will clean and sanitize your arm and insert a new, sterile needle. (The needle feels like a small pinch and only takes a few seconds.) 
• Whole Blood Donation: This process removes about 1 pint of blood directly from your arm, totaling about 8-10 minutes.
• Platelets: Donating platelets uses an apheresis machine which removes your blood, takes the platelets, and then puts the blood back into your arm. This process takes about 2 hours to complete.

• Recovery: After the donation process, you will rest for about 10-15 minutes while having a snack and drink, and then you are free to leave. 

Red Cross Chat/ Nicholas Lemesh

After your blood donation, share your experience with friends, family, and coworkers to help influence their involvement in a historical practice to save lives. Tag the Red Cross in your donation process pictures @redcrossncr with the hashtag #MissingType, so the country can share in the significant sacrifice you made like so many before you. 

Join the movement. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/missingtypes.  

Where did A, B & O go? Red Cross needs YOU to fill the Missing Types

N_tice _nything missing? A few missing letters may not seem like a big deal, but for a hospital patient who needs type A, B or O blood, these letters mean life. 

As part of an international movement, the American Red Cross is launching the Missing Types campaign to raise awareness of the need for new blood donors – and those who haven’t given in a while – to donate and help ensure lifesaving blood is available for patients in need. You may notice A’s, B’s and O’s – representing the main blood groups – missing from signage, websites, social media and other public-facing platforms to illustrate the critical role every blood donor plays.

The sad fact is that blood shortages are not uncommon in the U.S. and other parts of the world. But they can be prevented when more people roll up a sleeve to give.

When blood types go missing 

“Can you imagine your child or loved one actually needing lifesaving blood and to be told there may be no blood at the blood bank? That happened to us two times with blood and platelets,” said Susie Dotson, whose daughter Lily needed more than a dozen blood and platelet transfusions during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Hearing that the hospital didn’t have the blood or platelets Lily needed – and that she would have to wait for transfusions – was incredibly frustrating and eye-opening for the Dotson family.
“People automatically think blood is there. They don’t realize we’re relying on their blood donation,” said Susie. “Lily needed blood products just as much as the chemo or the treatment.”

Today, Lily has been cancer-free for four years and will be celebrating her 12th birthday this summer. 

Join the movement

1. Give blood – Schedule your appointment at RedCrossBlood.org/MissingTypes or with the Blood Donor App.
2. Recruit new donors – Encourage a friend or family member to roll up a sleeve too.
3. Spread the word – 
• Take a photo with one of these selfie signs and post it to your social media along with the message “I am the #MissingType.” 
• Write out your name with the A’s, B’s and O’s missing on the “blank” selfie sign, and take a photo with it. (Underscores are recommended. Example: _meric_n Red Cr_ss)
• Visit RedCrossBlood.org to share a Missing Types message on your social media.

What to expect at your donation

Giving blood is simple. Commit about an hour of your day to help save a life.

• Registration – Sign in, show your ID and read the required information. 
• Health check – Answer questions and receive a mini-physical. 
• Donation – Giving a pint of blood takes about 8-10 minutes.
• Refreshments – Enjoy some snacks and relax before resuming your day.

Speed up the donation process by completing the pre-donation reading and answering your health history questionnaire online with RapidPass on the day of your donation.

 

Y_u _re the #MissingType p_tients need. Don’t wait until the letters A, B and O go missing from the hospital shelves. Schedule your appointment to give now.