Childress organizing blood drive to give back – Herald-Mail Media

ROMANCOKE Blood donations saved Brad Childress life, and now he wants to give back by raising awareness about the importance of blood donation and helping replenish local supplies.

A deputy state fire marshal and 17-year member of United Communities Volunteer Fire Department, Childress, 33, described himself as a living miracle.

He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect in September. He underwent open heart surgery to correct it Nov. 19 at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

During his recovery at home, he suffered stomach complications that resulted in a major gastrointestinal bleed. Childress said he had developed an ulcer, possibly from the medication to treat his heart problem. There was an artery directly behind the ulcer, and when the ulcer ate through his stomach lining, the artery ruptured. He was rushed to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis.

I lost most of my blood. I was two minutes from death, the doctor said, Childress recalled. I went into shock. I was hemorrhaging from everywhere from every opening in my body.

Childress knew he had received three pints of blood during his heart surgery, and with the g.i. bleed, he received a lot more.

Thank God that they were able to save me and give me blood, he said. I have a whole new perspective on life. It was kind of a blessing. Im appreciating life more.

Both Brad and his wife Jenna are native Kent Islanders and have lived here their whole lives. She is a teacher in Talbot County. They have three children: Hunter, 7, and twins, Luke and Laney, 5.

Childress said his fire department family, his fire marshal family and really, the whole community have helped them through the difficult times during his illness and recovery. He said his family has been touched by the overwhelming support they have received. They wanted to do something to give back a blood drive seemed a natural fit.

The Brad Childress Give Back Blood Drive is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at United Communities Volunteer Fire Department, 9406 Romancoke Road, Stevensville. All donors will receive a gift and be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card.

Jenna has organized the whole blood drive, Childress said. She has been working with Michael Misulich, blood donor recruitment coordinator at AAMC.

All of the appointment spots filled up in the first 48 hours after the drive opened online, Childress said, but they are going to extend the hours to try to get everyone who comes in.

You can still walk in. Were pretty good at accommodating people who walk in, Misulich said.

The AAMC Bloodmobile will be on location at the firehouse in Romancoke. There will be food, a bouncy house for kids and other activities for people while theyre waiting, Misulich added.

Childress said he and the fire department hope to make the blood drive an annual event. They announced the drive in January, National Blood Donor Month, and February is traditionally a slow time for blood donations.

This is the time of year need goes up and donations are down, Misulich said. With the holidays, peoples routines are disrupted. We always need donors.

Approximately 41,000 pints of blood are used each day in the United States. Every two seconds someone needs blood. According to national statistics, one out of every 10 people entering a hospital needs blood, and 4.5 million Americans would die each year without life saving blood transfusions.

At Anne Arundel Medical Center alone, some 3,000 patients a year receive life-saving blood transfusions and that number is going to increase with the hospital opening a new cardiac unit, Misulich said. Also, AAMC has acquired Doctors Hospital in Prince Georges County, so AAMC will eventually be supplying blood there.

Donors must be between the ages of 17 and 75 (16 with parental consent); be in good health; and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors can give every 56 days.

Type O negative is always in demand, and currently theyre seeing a need for A negative, Misulich said, but all flavors are good.

Also, PRS Guitars is sponsoring a blood drive in Childress name on May 19 in the Chesapeake Bay Business Park.

The AAMC Blood Donor Center at Wayson Pavilion, Suite 450, is open 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Call 443-481-4215 for an appointment.

Childress and his wife will be the honorary guest speakers at AAMCs blood donor recognition dinner in April. Scott Hogan, former deputy with Queen Annes County Sheriffs Office, who was shot in the line of duty and received blood transfusions to help save his life, was the guest speaker last year. Sheriff Gary Hofmanns wife Olga also received a special award for organizing blood drives at Chesapeake College, where she was a nursing student.

Childress returned to work last week and served as captain of the Polar Bear Plunge team for the Fire Marshals Office, although this year he had to do his cheering from the sand.

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Childress organizing blood drive to give back - Herald-Mail Media