Stories from Canadian Blood Services

Stem cell donor from Potlotek First Nation
Inspiration

How an Indigenous stem cell donor saved a life on Canada’s opposite coast

Veronica, who is Mi’kmaw from Cape Breton, was a stem cell match for Judee, a woman of Métis heritage on Vancouver Island

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A woman with long brown hair, gold-rimmed glasses and a denim shirt stands on a roadway lined with greenery and brick buildings.
Information Plasma

Laying the groundwork for a more inclusive blood system

Dr. Catherine Jenkins, scientist and LGBTQ+ advocate, is part of our effort to evolve donor screening

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A young woman in a wide-brimmed hat smiles broadly as she holds her baby son.
Inspiration

New mother brings hope to patients after her own health emergency

Shami Rispoli honours the blood donors who helped her, by fundraising for Canada’s Lifeline

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Salim Amlani and his family outside Ismaili Centre in Toronto in 2016
Inspiration

Family of man with rare blood disorder grateful for gift of life

Salim Amlani has needed regular blood transfusions since he was a baby

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man, in a baseball cap, stands by a tree holding a toque with ‘be a hero’ written across the front
Inspiration

His wife lost her cancer battle, but donors gave them hope and time

Edmond Chan became a donor champion and advocate as he cared for his wife, Christina, during her 17-year cancer battle

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Miranda McLeod and her son Tanner pose together on their lawn. Miranda carries Tanner on her lap, weeks after his stem cell transplant.
Inspiration

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day

Three Indigenous women share stories of their connection to Canada’s Lifeline

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Mother crouched down on paved road with arm around the waist of her 2-year-old son and passersby in the background
Inspiration

Ineligible to donate her own blood, B.C. woman donated cord blood

Elaine O'Keeffe became an advocate for Canada's Lifeline and donated her son Charlie's cord blood

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