Blood donations save lives in liver operations, says Red Cross

October is National Liver Awareness Month and the American Red Cross reminds blood donors that organ transplant patients often rely on their donated blood.

Two patients at a hospital served by the American Red Cross recently underwent liver transplants and received more than 130 units of red blood cells.

“Liver transplant patients often require large amounts of blood transfusions during surgery,” said Geoff Kaufmann, CEO of the local Red Cross Blood Services Region. “Thanks to our dedicated blood donors, the Red Cross was able to meet the needs of these two patients and countless others.”

For more information, visit liverfoundation.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in this area include:

•October 11, 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. – St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 411 Hawthorne Street, Alexandria.

•October 12, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 411 Hawthorne Street, Alexandria.

•October 12, noon to 6 p.m. – Community Center, 18 East Nokomis Street, Osakis.

•October 12, 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 105 North Franklin, Glenwood.

•October 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Minnewaska High School, 25122 State Highway 28, Glenwood.

To donate blood, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

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