Rodney Wilson

My #running goal is to #race in all 50 US states. I just completed state 32, Arkansas! Please share race suggestions I can add to my list! #runnerscommunity #run50

Metallica Drove 40,000 Blood Donations in the Past Year, American Red Cross Says variety.com/2026/music/new…

Hello Wednesday. #Columbus #ohio #sunrise 🌞

Spring, is that you?

Hello Thursday. #Columbus #ohio 🌞

For more than a decade, donating platelets has been part of Matt Behring’s life. He’s rolled up his sleeve more than 200 times, donating over 600 units of lifesaving blood products for patients in need. But recently, this familiar habit gave him something he never expected — an early warning sign about his own health. Last August, while the Red Cross was offering free A1C testing in an effort to build better community health and awareness, Matt donated platelets and received his results. “It really made me pause and think about my overall health,” he said. The test showed his A1C level was elevated — something he hadn’t been aware of at all. That moment pushed Matt to take action. With encouragement from his wife, Mattea, he shifted to a zero‑sugar diet and made a few intentional changes to his daily habits. The result? He lost 14 pounds and feels better than he has in years. “Seeing the numbers laid out so clearly was motivating, and it helped me make a few small adjustments to my daily routine and be more intentional about what I’m doing for my long‑term well‑being.” For Matt, platelet donation began as a simple lesson for his son, who was afraid of needles. He wanted to show him there was nothing to fear, so he set the example. That moment grew into a passion for helping others, a routine he cherishes because of the good it does for patients fighting cancer, experiencing trauma, or facing critical medical needs. “You’re giving something that can make a direct, immediate difference,” Matt said. “The process is smooth, the staff is always kind, and you walk away knowing you’ve done something truly worthwhile. I believe that it’s one of the simplest ways to make a real impact.” Now, that routine is helping him stay healthy — through the A1C testing we offer and the routine checks donors receive with every visit, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and hemoglobin measurements. “I think it’s incredibly important that the Red Cross gives donors access to this kind of information,” Matt said. “It’s such a valuable added benefit. Not only are you helping patients who need platelets, but you are also getting meaningful feedback about your own health. It makes the whole experience feel even more impactful.” We’re expanding our health offerings this Red Cross Month with free A1C testing for all who successfully give blood through March 31 (one test result per donor in a 12-month period). Gain valuable information about your blood sugar levels over the past three months by making an appointment to donate blood: rdcrss.org/46PSdNH

Knox is the sixth child in his family. His parents, Jessica and Andy, expected him to be another healthy newborn just like his older siblings. But the moment he arrived, everything changed. Knox was taken to the NICU right away, and at just 2 weeks old, he received his first blood transfusion for a rare disorder that causes his red blood cells to be destroyed far too quickly. Since then, Knox’s life has been shaped by the rhythm of his blood counts. When they drop, so does his energy. Headaches settle in. His skin grows pale. His legs ache. He struggles to sleep, and his bright personality fades. Each sign is his body’s way of saying it can’t keep going without help. And then comes the blood transfusion. “His cheeks become rosy again,” Jessica said. “His energy returns. He’s singing in the car, laughing and playing.” For Knox’s family, the transformation feels almost instant — a hope‑filled reminder of what one unit of donated blood can do. Most days, Knox is a lively, energetic 4‑year‑old who loves basketball and soccer. But without timely transfusions, even the simplest joys slip out of reach. The little boy who was running and smiling just hours earlier suddenly grows quiet, tired and withdrawn — a sharp contrast to the spark they know so well. Still, Knox never complains. “He never asks ‘Why me?’” Jessica said. “He doesn’t compare himself to his siblings or focus on what he can’t do. He just lives life the only way he knows how – happy and full of spirit. Most people who meet him would never guess what he faces.” Before Knox, his parents had never donated blood. They simply didn’t know how profoundly one donation could change the course of a child’s day — or a family’s life. “We never donated before Knox was the one in need,” Jessica said. “We didn’t know. But now we do. We understand that blood donors give families like ours the most priceless gift: time, energy, childhood, and life.” Their hope in sharing his story is simple: to help someone else understand the impact they can make. “Somewhere out there, another child just like Knox will walk out of a hospital with rosy cheeks and a second chance, all because someone took an hour to donate.” Our national blood shortage means children like Knox are counting on donors more than ever. One hour of your time can help bring color, energy and comfort back to a child who depends on regular transfusions to feel like themselves again. If you’re able, please make an appointment to donate blood: rdcrss.org/4r4kCGQ

Emma knows that people around the world have traumas and she can help them by donating blood. ⬇️ (Video produced by Kevin Suttlehan)

I ran the Little Rock Half Marathon @LRMarathon! Check out that bling with a literary theme. #runner

Don’t miss your chance to score exclusive Red Cross x @Metallica merch while helping patients in need amid our national blood shortage. Those who make an appointment using the link below and come to give blood through Feb. 28 at any Red Cross blood drive across the U.S. will get: - An all-new, limited-edition Red Cross x Metallica T-shirt by mail, while supplies last. - Entry for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind ESP Snakebyte guitar, featuring the exclusive Red Cross x Metallica design created by famed Metallica artist Squindo and personally autographed by all Metallica band members. Help save lives and make an appointment to donate: rdcrss.org/4ru4KhR Terms and conditions apply, other entry available.

Hello Saturday. 🌞 #Columbus #ohio #sunrise

Doug Oakley never expected to become a living testament to the power of blood donation. But one moment on a motorcycle changed the course of his life forever. Several years ago, Doug was in a devastating motorcycle accident that his doctors later told him should have been fatal. His injuries were severe, and his survival depended entirely on donated blood. Doug didn’t know the donors who stepped up that day. But people who took an hour out of an ordinary afternoon were the reason he survived a tragedy that should have taken him from his family. Once he recovered, Doug felt compelled to give back. “I organized a blood drive with the Red Cross as a means of paying back for all the blood that I had used after the motorcycle accident,” he said. What he didn’t expect was that the blood drive would save his life all over again. During the routine health screening before donating, Doug learned he wasn’t eligible to give blood. “My hemoglobin was extremely low,” he recalled. “So I was not qualified to donate blood. In fact, they weren’t even sure why I was qualified to stand up.” Concerned, Red Cross staff encouraged him to see a doctor right away. The diagnosis that followed was shocking: Doug had a very rare form of blood cancer. “It could only be cured with what’s called a stem cell transplant,” he explained. Suddenly, blood wasn’t just something that had saved him once. It became his lifeline. “I required blood about every eight to 10 days,” Doug said. “They sometimes had to go to other cities to find the blood that would match with me.” Transfusions sustained him for six months while he waited for a stem cell donor. Finally, a match was found, and the transplant was a success. Doug is cancer‑free today. “The Red Cross really went on to save my life a second time as well,” he said. Doug shares his story because he knows most people don’t realize how quickly any one of us could need blood. Accidents. Cancer. Surgeries. Emergencies. These moments never come with warning. “Please donate to your nearest Red Cross,” he said. “Donate blood.” Help us ensure hospitals can meet the blood needs of patients amid our severe blood shortage. If you’re able, please make an appointment to give: rdcrss.org/4avGJzH

Joshua Reid, a Red Cross phlebotomist, knows the power of a blood donation firsthand. As a young man, Joshua was involved in a serious car accident and needed five pints of blood. Today, his life has come full circle. Read his inspiring message below. rdcrss.org/4a7xVkM

When Michaela Heitschmidt was pregnant with her fourth child, she never imagined the joy of expecting a baby would suddenly turn into fear. She was at her parents’ house when she began hemorrhaging. An ambulance rushed her to her local hospital, where the medical team worked urgently to stabilize her. She received two blood transfusions in the emergency room before being transported to University of Kansas Medical Center. There, doctors performed an emergency C‑section and delivered her son. During surgery, Michaela needed four more transfusions. “The next day, I was still struggling with my hemoglobin so I got an additional blood transfusion,” she said. “The baby ended up needing one at delivery as well.” Just as they began to recover, another crisis struck. Michaela had just returned home from the NICU with her newborn when she realized something was wrong with her 4‑year‑old daughter. What started as an E. coli infection quickly escalated into hemolytic uremic syndrome, a dangerous condition that causes red blood cells to break down rapidly. “She was in the hospital for five days and ended up getting four blood transfusions,” Michaela said. She still remembers the moment nurses weren’t sure the hospital had the blood her daughter needed. “The nurses came in saying, ‘She needs one more unit of blood, her hemoglobin is still too low. I don't know that we have it.’ And that heart‑dropping feeling of, what's going to happen if she doesn't get it?” Thankfully, her daughter received the transfusion she needed. Within just two weeks, Michaela and both her children required 12 units of blood to survive. “I remember after we got home from the hospital, I sat in this moment of reflection. Strangers saved our lives and they don't even know it. They have no idea the profound effect it had on my family.” The experience reshaped how she views the lifesaving power of blood donors. Despite the trauma and fear associated with blood and needles after her ordeal, Michaela rolled up her sleeve and donated blood for the first time in October. Today, her children are thriving. Michaela is home with her family, grateful beyond words — and determined to pay it forward. There’s a severe blood shortage happening right now, and we need your help to ensure hospitals can meet patients' blood needs. If you’re able, please make an appointment to give: rdcrss.org/4rbxiwA

It’s #PhlebotomistWeek (Feb. 9–13)! 🩸 and we're celebrating blood collector David Nettles, whose calm and compassion help make every donation lifesaving. Thank you, David, and all our phlebotomy rock stars! 👏❤️ Learn more about David here: rdcrss.org/4r6PTK8

We continue to face a severe blood shortage, made worse by recent extreme winter weather. About 800 blood drives have been canceled since the beginning of the year, leading to more than 20,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations. We are in urgent need of donors to help patients who are counting on lifesaving blood following accidents, during surgeries, and for treatment of conditions such as sickle cell disease and cancer. Help us beat this shortage by scheduling an appointment to give blood or platelets: rdcrss.org/4tvSwXG

Seen on my run. 🏃‍♂️

In 2024, Shelby and her husband were thrilled to learn they were adding a baby boy to their family of all girls. But by 18 weeks, Shelby began experiencing abnormal abdominal pressure. She was diagnosed with placenta accreta, a rare and dangerous condition that occurs when the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall and can lead to life‑threatening bleeding. A C‑section followed by a hysterectomy would be necessary to manage the expected blood loss. Shelby was referred to UofL Health for her son’s delivery, hoping for the safest possible outcome. She spent the night in the hospital before her C-section to monitor some concerning bleeding. During the surgery, the danger became real. When doctors removed the placenta, Shelby began to hemorrhage uncontrollably. What followed was a fight for her life. Shelby needed more than 100 units of blood products. “At a certain point, I only had donor blood in my body,” she said. Shelby spent 12 days unconscious in the ICU. She missed spending Halloween and Thanksgiving with her children, but she never stopped fighting to make it home for the holidays. With the dedication of her medical team, the support of her family, and her own resilience, she recovered enough to be discharged after nearly two months in the hospital — just in time to celebrate with the people she loves most. Today, she is filled with gratitude for the donors who made coming home to her family possible. “It took a lot of blood donors to bring me back to life,” Shelby said. “I’m very lucky the hospital had the blood they had.” Every unit of blood that saved her came from someone who took the time to donate — someone who never knew they would one day help bring a mother back to her children. We are experiencing a severe blood shortage, and doctors may face difficult decisions — such as who can safely move forward with treatment and who will have to wait — because there simply isn’t enough blood available. Help us beat the current shortage by scheduling an appointment to give blood or platelets: rdcrss.org/3LVYX5r

@RedCrossLA FYI, The link on this post doesn't work for me.

Today, we celebrate the life of Gwendolyn Esters, a nurse, health educator and devoted Red Cross volunteer. Her 22 years of service leave a legacy of healing, education and pride that will endure for generations. Learn more about her life of service: statics.teams.cdn.office.net/evergreen-asse…

In November 2023, Lauren was a new mom to a 7‑month‑old baby girl and newly pregnant with her second child. Life was unfolding exactly as she hoped. Then a routine prenatal blood test changed everything — she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Within days, her family was confronted with a painful reality: Lauren needed to begin treatment immediately to have a chance at survival. What followed was a journey marked by courage, heartbreak and resilience. Lauren endured high‑dose chemotherapy, a relapse, and ultimately a stem cell transplant. She spent more than 100 days in hospitals, separated from her family, relying on hundreds of blood and platelet transfusions to stay alive. Lauren is now 228 days post‑transplant and in remission. She’s home. She’s watching her daughter twirl in dance class. She’s celebrating holidays. She’s growing old with her husband. And she’s alive because blood donors showed up. “Every single donation you make goes directly towards saving someone's life, an act of kindness and selflessness that cannot be understated,” Lauren said. “Your generosity ensures that people like me — battling illnesses and facing unimaginable challenges — have a fighting chance. You are the unseen heroes behind countless recovered lives and cherished moments. Thank you for giving me and so many others the gift of life.” Patients with cancer often need blood and platelets throughout treatment, and during this national blood shortage, there is a severe need for donors to make an appointment to give. Make an appointment to donate today: rdcrss.org/4aeTWwE