Kimberly’s Story

From patient to donor: Kimberly’s full-circle journey

In 2017, Kimberly was diagnosed with cancer. She did her best to prepare for the physical and emotional toll of treatment. But she didn’t anticipate how vulnerable she would feel when chemotherapy left her too weak to continue. “Chemo attacked my tumor cells but also left me exhausted, pale, and breathless,” she recalls.

One day, when low hemoglobin delayed her treatment, she was devastated. “Delaying chemo meant delaying my surgery—everything felt out of my control.” But then, she received a blood transfusion. “Relief washed over me. My anemia improved, my anxiety eased, and hope sprang back into action.”

Three years after her final surgery, Kimberly started a new job as an RN, a milestone that deepened her gratitude for her health and the generosity of blood donors.

Recently, she donated blood for the first time. “It was a full-circle moment—going from a patient receiving blood to a nurse donating it. It reminded me of the kindness of strangers.”

Now, she encourages others to give. “Your donation might feel small, but to someone like me, it’s everything. I once sat on the receiving end, hoping for a second chance. Today, I get to give that chance to someone else—and so can you.”