NCBB Celebrates Saving Lives During Prematurity Awareness Month

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month, and the team at Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB; NCBB.org) knows first-hand that premature babies often rely on blood transfusions during their first days of life.

Twins Etta and Lane weighed only one pound, 10 ounces each when they were born at just 25 weeks’ gestation. Due to their premature birth and small size, they had very low blood volume and were unable to produce red blood cells fast enough to keep up with the demand of frequent blood draws for tests. Etta and Lane spent a long and challenging four months in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). Both required several blood transfusions.

“We are so thankful,” said Maggie Bruss, the twins’ mother. “Without volunteer blood donations, we would have not had the opportunity to take our miracle babies home. Your extremely thoughtful and life-saving contributions are greatly appreciated by our entire family.”

Today, the twins are healthy, happy, active siblings. They’ve returned to the NICU a few times since, on happier terms and with gifts for other patients and special treats for staff.

Talk to the Nebraska Community Blood Bank about how blood donors and blood drive sponsors help save and sustain the lives of premature babies and other patients every day. Visit NCBB.org or call (402) 486-9414 to learn more about hosting a blood drive at your organization and joining this life-saving mission.