Morton High teen donates blood to help others in need

HAMMOND | Jadrien Doss nervously smiled as he watched the needle slide into his arm.

When Doss, 17, of Hammond, signed up Thursday for the American Red Cross-sponsored blood drive at Morton High School, he had no idea he was returning the favor a stranger granted him 17 years ago.

His mother, Josephine Guzman, said Doss was born 12 weeks early, weighing only 3 pounds. Because of complications, he received multiple blood transfusions that saved his life.

Guzman had forgotten about Doss' blood transfusions until he mentioned he had signed up for his school's blood drive. That's when she told him he had been a recipient.

"I thought to myself, 'It's a good thing he's giving back,'" Guzman said. "Absolutely, I'm proud of him."

Tracy Duncan, the community manager for the Indiana/Ohio region of the American Red Cross, said although the holiday season is known as a giving time of year, blood donations drop. As a result, the agency tries to host special events to keep the blood supply at a steady level. For example, in winter months, the Fort Wayne Fire Department competes against the Fort Wayne Police Department to see who can donate more blood, Duncan said.

Part of the reason of the decrease is students' winter breaks. About 20 percent of donated blood comes from high school and college students who donate on their school campuses.

"Donating blood is a gift you can give that is free; it doesn't cost you anything but an hour of your time," said Ann McKanna, vice president of marketing and new business development for Heartland Blood Centers in a statement. "People of all ages will spend the holidays in the hospital, and many will require blood transfusions."

Doss said he wasn't sure what prompted him to sign up to be a donor.

"I figured it would help somebody out," he said. "It's neat. It's a continuous cycle in a way."

Duncan said she tells first-time donors like Doss the process takes about an hour, and while there is some discomfort, they can take comfort in the fact that each time someone donates blood, he or she potentially is saving three lives. Each blood donation can be broken up into three components.

Duncan said she encourages families to start a new holiday tradition by going out to a meal together before donating blood.

"It really is the perfect gift," she said. "There's no substitute for blood."

Doss said he plans to donate again, which he is eligible to do after 56 days.

"I think it's the right thing to do," he said.