Story told by Amanda Graham, Red Cross Volunteer

In 2019, Kent Trowbridge’s 13-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia. Her treatment required her to receive several units of blood and blood products over 2-3 years. In sharing his daughter’s remarkable story, Kent wants blood donors to know where their blood donations are going. It was this experience that motivated him to become a volunteer himself.

“And if it hadn’t been for the generosity of people who never know where their blood goes, you know, my daughter is one of the people who benefited from the kindness of those people,” Kent said.

In witnessing his daughter’s recovery and the amount of blood donations that were used to treat her effectively, Kent began to think about how he could give back. Diagnosed with Lyme Disease years prior, Kent did not believe himself eligible to donate. After joining the Red Cross in 2023, he learned this was no longer the case. Since the end of 2023, he has made several blood donations.

“Whenever I go, I always say, what do you need the most of right now? Is it platelets, or is it whole blood? You tell me, because I’m O negative,” said Kent. “I just want to be here for you guys, so what does the system need?”

Kent mentioned that donating blood makes him feel good, but he started volunteering with the Red Cross with the hope of spreading a message to other donors.

“A lot of the reason I joined the Red Cross is to talk to people who are donating blood who maybe don’t know somebody who’s really needed it,” said Kent. “I give them thanks on behalf of my daughter, who is doing well today because of what someone like them did.”

To those potential donors who may be on the fence about donating, Kent offered several words of encouragement.

“If you could give the gift of life to somebody you love, would you? You never know when you or a loved one might need blood. The blood you give today might be the one that saves you.”

Kent spoke about the gratification of becoming a blood donor but was also touched by what he witnessed the Red Cross doing for communities in need.

“I joined the Red Cross to give back on the blood side, but I didn’t realize how much they did on the community side. There were 380 home fires in the Lowcountry the Red Cross showed up for,” Kent recalls. “After the first responders go and the food trucks leave, it’s the Red Cross that stays and helps those families. So, it is very much a community-based organization that is here for us.”

Kent’s daughter is alive and well today. Volunteers often consist of individuals who were inspired by stories like that of the Trowbridge family. If you wish to become a donor or have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, please visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.