Express & Star

Mother backs blood donor campaign after baby daughter's life saved

A mother whose baby daughter was saved by a blood donor is backing a campaign to encourage more men to donate blood.

Published
Hayley Bean with her baby daughter Willow

Hayley Bean, 33, of West Bromwich, is backing the NHS Blood and Transplant's (NHSBT) national campaign in the Black Country as fewer men donate than women.

During 2019, only 41 per cent of new donors in Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall and Dudley were men.

Until the end of November, 884 women from these areas started donating but only 619 men.

Hayley's daughter Willow survived a traumatic birth in September, thanks to the kindness of a blood donor.

Hayley was diagnosed with Vasa Previa, a pregnancy complication which affects roughly one in every 2,500 births.

Willow's blood vessels were crossing the internal opening of the uterus, and were at risk of rupture, as they were unsupported by the umbilical cord or placental tissue.

It also meant a natural birth was not possible. During a planned C-Section, Willow's blood vessels ruptured, causing life threatening bleeding.

Hayley said: "All the alarms were going off and people were running around.

“They got her out and I waited to hear that first cry and it never came.

"It was the worst moment of my life. She wasn't breathing and had gone into shock and the neonatal team had to resuscitate her.”

Kindness of a stranger

Willow received a single transfusion of cross matched O positive blood which saved her life. Some neonatal transfusions can only use blood from male donors.

Hayley said: "She wouldn’t be here today except for the kindness of a stranger.

"It’s such a selfless thing to do – people give without expecting anything in return. I have donated blood and platelets myself and I can’t wait to start donating again.

“It’s an extraordinary thing to do, and I hope more men start donating blood in the New Year.”

Men have higher iron levels and only men's blood can be used for some transfusions and productions.

NHSBT have said that without more men starting to give blood, blood stocks will come under increasing pressure in future years.

The West Midlands is one of the target areas for new male donors as part of the national campaign – and NHSBT is aiming for 48 per cent of all new donors in West Midlands to be male during 2020.

Mike Streddor, the head of donor recruitment for NHSBT, added: "All our donors are amazing. But we need more men to start donating blood in the West Midlands during the New Year.

"Men’s blood can be used in extraordinary, lifesaving ways, but we don’t have enough new male donors coming forward. This is not about recruiting as many donors as possible – it’s about getting the right gender mix.

“If you can’t find an appointment right away don’t worry – your blood will do extraordinary things if you donate in a few weeks instead.”

For more information or to become a blood donor, visit www.blood.co.uk