Kanika Ellis is our new Project Manager.  She is from Albany, NY, but has lived in Charlotte for nine years.  Before arriving at CBCC, Kanika worked at Duke Energy as a project manager and Blue Ridge Analytics as a business analyst. She graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a B.A. in Business Management.  She has a 12-year-old son named Jaylen whom she loves spending time with.  She also enjoys karaoke, reading, travel, shopping and theatre.  She’s currently on the board with the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival, the Charlotte Medical, Pharmaceutical and Dental Society, and a member of the Charlotte Chapter of Jack and Jill.

Kanika is very community driven.  “When offered a position here it offered me a chance to add more to my community. I enjoy coming into the office knowing that showing up for work and doing my job can potentially save a life.”

Lori Haas is one of our new Sponsorship Developers here at CBCC.  She was born in New York, but moved every three years until college when she attended UNC-Charlotte for her undergraduate degree in psychology, and Pepperdine University for her M.A. Before joining our team, Lori worked as a developer at the American Red Cross, and as a pharmaceutical sales rep for Women’s Choice Pharmaceuticals.   She has three children ages 10-13, and has been married for 20 years to her husband Brian.  They have one dog, Goldie.

Lori is excited to be here and says, “I truly believe in the mission and felt the need to work every day toward fulfilling that mission!”

Roseann Michalowski is another new Sponsorship Developer.  She is originally from East Northport, NY and graduated from Long Island University with a degree in business management.  Ro (as she is called) has lived in Statesville for seven years.  She previously worked at the Red Cross for six years, and was a sales manager at BBJ Environmental Products HVAC products before that.  Ro is also a Licensed NC Wildlife Rehabilitator who currently has two dogs, six cats, nine convalescing possums and four squirrels.  She helps rehabilitate all small mammals and some reptiles.

She loves working at CBCC because she thrives on “the sense of urgency needed to strive every day to accomplish our mission for our hospitals, their patients and our families.”

Lamaar Steadman is our new Sickle Cell Donor Education Specialist.  He was born in Nuremburg, Germany and traveled as an army brat for eight years before settling in Ft. Wayne, Indiana for 23 years. He received his B.A. in Interpersonal Communications and Psychology at Purdue University. He worked at the Red Cross in Indiana for five years before moving to Charlotte in February 2012.  He then worked as an independent agent at American Insurance Marketing Solutions before joining the CBCC team.

“I wanted to be able to help save lives, to support our local hospitals, to encourage and educate people on the importance of volunteering and blood donations, and to be involved with something greater than myself,” Lamaar said.

Lynnette Krentz recently joined us in HR as a Finance Assistant.

We have also added new members to our Blood Collections Staff.  When you’re giving blood, look for: Stephany Turner, Billie Person, Leslieanne Lichtman, Fayonna DeLoache-Briscoe, Everly Tipps and Lanisha Davis.

CBCC is honored to have such great additions to our team, and we know that their expertise and passion will be a boon to our organization and to you as donors. 

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few other sponsors who went above and beyond in hosting blood drives last month:

• The ROTC students at R-S Central High School in Rutherfordton d id an excellent job signing up students and volunteering during the drive. They collected the most ever at RS Central exceeding their goal by 116%. Way to go Sergeant Armentrout and the ROTC members!

• The CPCC-Merancas Campus surpassed its goal by 104%. Sponsor , Amanda Everhart, is a great supporter of CBCC and goes above and beyond every time. She personally talks to the students and asks them to sign up, she hangs fliers everywhere on the campus and even recruits students to pass out blood drive ‘stuffers’. Many thanks to the students at CPCC-Merancas and Amanda on a job well done.

• Student Nursing Association of Appalachian State University. Mother Nature did not cooperate with the April 4 Appalachian State University Student Nursing Association (SNA) blood drive. Although the SNA brought plenty of donors, the sleet, snow and freezing rain cut the drive short. Because the SNA was determined to meet their goal and help others in the community, another drive was scheduled for April 22. Again, there were plenty of donors and Mother Nature brought plenty of sunshine making it a successful day. Led by Lyndsay Brand and Kate Wasowski, they exceeded their goal 158%!

Shortly after the reunion, Jon went to Duke University Hospital where he received a bone marrow transplant from his younger sister. Jon’s recovery went well. Over the last couple of years, he began to tick through new milestones as his life returned to “normal.” He went back to work full-time, recently celebrated his five-year anniversary with his wife, Amanda, and they became parents. Their son Gabe is now six months old.

When you donate blood to CBCC, you’re helping save lives of local patients like Jon. They depend on donors like you. Jon is as appreciative of donors today as he was in 2009. As he frequently says, “Being a hero isn’t about being physically strong. It’s about the compassion and willingness to give up your arm to donate blood. Every time you donate, you save lives.”

P.S. Jon was on my mind because I saw him recently and received a call from him last week. He now faces a new health challenge. I’m confident he will persevere. I don’t believe he will need your blood this time, but he could use your good thoughts and prayers. He’s got mine. Thank you all for the blood you donate and the people you are.

Two years before I entered his classroom, Dr. Gless was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that took him away from teaching for over a year.  In the fall of 2008, he’d returned to teach one class – mine.  After going through extensive radiation and chemotherapy, as well as receiving many blood transfusions, he was finally declared in remission.  The whole ordeal had left him weaker than before, but at least he was alive. 

From day one, I knew I’d been put there for a reason. I went to every 9 a.m. class with excitement and enthusiasm.  With degrees from Oxford and Princeton, but the humility of a pauper, everyone loved this man.  And when Dr. Gless shared his past battle with cancer, I realized how extraordinarily lucky I was to have chosen that semester, and not the one before, to take Shakespeare.  I worked harder in his class than any other, and loved every minute of it.

Since that class, I studied abroad in London, traveled around Europe, wrote a book, and starting keeping Shakespeare’s sonnets next to my bed – all of which were decisions influenced by this quiet, brilliant and inspiring man.

Over Christmas, Dr. Gless (who is in his 60s) and another professor “treated themselves to a wedding.”  While on his honeymoon, he woke up one morning with a shooting pain in his back and leg.  He thought it was a slipped disk, but a month later, it only seemed to be getting worse.

When I went to visit in February, I attended one of his classes and he encouraged me to speak to the students about the importance of blood donation.  I didn’t find out until later that he’d been given a blood transfusion the week before, as his iron count had been dangerously low.  They’d also performed a bone marrow biopsy, and were worried the cancer had returned.

Last week I visited again.  Professor Gless  has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome – a disease in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells.  It is often brought on by chemotherapy and radiation.  So far, there is no known cure.  A full bone marrow transplant has significantly extended lifespan in the past with certain myelodysplastic patients, but for someone of his age and history, it would be a very risky operation.  Instead, Professor Gless will probably choose to focus on controlling the disease.  One of the most important ways to keep myelodysplastic syndrome patients alive is through frequent blood transfusions.

Professor Gless has kept a sunny outlook through this very difficult diagnosis.  As he put it, “It all sounds quite grim, but luckily, I’ve been too busy to dwell on it.”   He always keeps a smile in his voice and he will continue to teach as long as possible. As a result, every student that goes through his class will have the opportunity to be touched by this amazing man. The longer he is with us, the bigger difference he can make.

This has all hit me very hard; but it has made me ever grateful for the role I play in the process of blood donation.  I work for a company that saves hundreds of lives every day.  We are saving lives of people like Professor Gless – people whose lives touch so many others.

So the big question is, whose life can you save?  Who was that person who changed your outlook on the world or made you the person you are?  Because there’s a good chance that one day, they may need blood.  And you will be the one praying that there is enough blood to save his or her life.

If you’re healthy, do your part.  Donate blood.  Save lives.  You never know who will need it next.

Our winner was drawn last week and to our surprise, most of the staff knows his name.  Kevin Dunne, one of our most dedicated blood donors.

Kevin donates with us every 56 days.  Last year, he donated seven times!  Yes, SEVEN!  He started donating with CBCC in 2005 and has donated 49 times in all. Not only does he donate religiously, but he also holds drives and gets his friends to donate.

He held blood drives in memory of a friend, Alexis Smith, here at the Charlotte center for seven years.  Last weekend, he organized a blood and platelet drive that took place in memory of Dennis Forsloff, who recently passed away from cancer.

Kevin, who is a very humble and jolly man, came into the center Friday morning to accept his prize.  He was all smiles.  “I haven’t had a vacation in years,” he told us, grinning.

He accepted his prize and talked with every employee who came by (since he knows nearly all of them).  While the drawing was completely random, we are so glad it was Kevin who was picked.  If anyone deserves this recognition and a vacation, it’s Kevin.

Thank you Kevin, for the 147 lives you’ve saved over the last 8 years, and for being such a huge advocate of blood donation in the community.  We hope you enjoy your trip immensely and we look forward to hearing about it next time you’re in the chair! :)

So yesterday, armed with a piece of chalk and a sharpie, Jennifer Krupa and I made our way to the warehouse to blow up our newly named blood drop.  Once inflated, I got on a stool and began sketching out her eyelashes with chalk.  Once they were even (and let me tell you, this was a feat since you cannot see the left eye if you are working on the right), I hesitantly began applying the permanent marker to Hope’s red fabric.  I was nervous, but in the end, they turned out great and now Hope officially looks like a girl.

We are so excited to introduce Hope to our donors at upcoming drives.  You can donate in the name of Hope.  You can take photos with Hope.  But most importantly, Hope will be a constant reminder of what you as a donor bring to so many patients around the Carolinas – hope for tomorrow.

As a blood donor, you bring hope for children to grow up.  You give hope to fathers who want to walk their daughters down the aisle.  You bring hope to mothers who want to hold their grandchildren.  You bring hope to countless, countless souls – and they aren’t just strangers.  These are your fellow Carolinians.  These are your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends and your family.

So just remember, Hope may be a cute, fun addition to our blood drives – but her meaning is deep and powerful.  She represents what only you can make come true.

Through donors like you, CBCC saves hundreds of lives every day.  But we don’t want to forget our friends who help save lives through preventative measures.  Keep yourself informed and healthy, and hopefully you can stay on the giving side of blood donation.

The Heart2Heart Foundation is an organization with a mission to educate, support and advocate for women’s heart health.  Since blood pressure is directly linked to heart health, and it is Blood Pressure Awareness Month here at CBCC, we wanted to pass the word about a special Lunch-n-Learn hosted by the City Club of Rock Hill and the Heart2Heart Foundation where Dr. Sushil Singhi of Carolina Cardiology will discuss the role that genetics play in the early diagnosis and treatment for heart disease.  There will be a Q & A session to follow.

It will be held 12-1:30 p.m. Wednesday May 15 at the City Club of Rock Hill, 140 East Main Street.

The cost is $20 per person and includes lunch, door prizes, free screenings, massages and more. Proceeds benefit the Community Education Programs and Heart Health Risk Screenings provided by the Foundation.

Learn more about the foundation at www.theheart2heartfoundation.org.

As many of you may know, our former social media girl, Molly, recently left us for new adventures – and she will be greatly missed.  While I have only known molly for about 6 months, her cheery presence and sharp wit brought joy to everyone in the office.  She also served as a great resource for me.  When I joined CBCC in November, I had daily questions about everything from blood to the donation process to how to work the phone – and Molly always did her best to help me out.

Molly started with us two years ago in a part-time position.  After about a year, as CBCC grew and realized the need for a reliable social media presence, Molly was asked to step in and fill that spot.  She spent part of her time calling our wonderful donors to remind them about upcoming drives, and the rest of her time getting information to our followers on Facebook, Twitter, the blog and other social media outlets.  She joined chamber meetings and special events to get the word out about the importance of blood donation.  She attended blood drives to photograph our selfless donors and share their stories.   She was a friend to many of our supporters, and a vocal advocate of blood donation.

CBCC’s social media presence could never be where it is today without Molly, and we are ever so grateful.  But don’t worry!  You can still follow Molly on Google+ (https://plus.google.com/100676260836294017614/posts) and she will still be coming back to donate every two months.

Jennifer Krupa, our marketing specialist, will particularly miss Molly.  Both natives of Ohio, they had a kind of unspoken bond that no one else in the office could understand.  I’m pretty sure they could communicate telepathically.

So now I am taking over Molly’s old title, and let me just say, these are not small shoes to fill.  Molly tried to prepare me the best she could in a short amount of time, but I ask you all to please be patient with me as I learn the ropes and get to know our supporters the way she did.

Here’s to you Molly!  May your future be bright, may your joys be many and may you never forget to spread the word about blood donation! ;)

Link: http://blog.cbcc.us/?p=848

The pressure is on to save local lives!  You can do your part, even if you are taking blood pressure medication.

Did you know?

• Approximately 68 million people are living with high blood pressure in the U.S. and most don’t realize they are eligible to donate blood.
• Your blood pressure should be below 140/90 to give blood.
• When donating blood with CBCC, you will receive a mini-physical which provides your current blood pressure levels. If you create a profile on our website, you can track your levels from the very first time you attempt to give.
• As long as your pre-donation levels are within normal limits, donating blood does not affect your blood pressure.
• If you are on blood pressure medication, make sure you know the name of your medication when you come in to donate. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions, especially if you have extremely high blood pressure.

Help dispel one of the myths about blood donation!  If you are taking blood pressure medications, chances are you can still give life-saving blood.  Rather than assume otherwise, ask your doctor and visit one of our five donor centers or mobile blood drives to find out if your blood pressure is in the range to donate. Learn more at www.cbcc.us/bloodpressure.

Don’t give up the chance to save local lives because you think you’re not eligible! Schedule your blood donation appointment today by signing up at www.carolinadonor.org or calling 704-972-4700.