First responders bloodmobile May 3rd and 8th
Sheriff’s Deputy Lydia Saunders is alive today because of the generosity of five strangers.
Five pints of blood saved Saunders’ life when she suffered a medical emergency in 2015.
“Without the people who gave blood, I would not be here,” Saunders said.
Her first-hand experience led Saunders to encourage fellow employees at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office to give blood during the countywide “Battle of the Badges” bloodmobile conducted by the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The bloodmobiles will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, May 3 at the Smyrna Event Center and at La Vergne City Hall and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 8 at Patterson Park Community Center and the Sheriff’s Office in Murfreesboro.
People may register the following representatives to give blood at the sites:
- Shirley Key shirley.key@townofsmyrna.org at Smyrna Event Center.
- Sheree Robertson at srobertson@lavergnetn.gov at La Vergne City Hall.
- Ashley McDonald at amcdonald@murfreesborotn.gov at Patterson Park Community Center.
- Lisa Marchesoni at lmarchesoni@rcsotn.org at the Sheriff’s Office.
When giving blood, the donor may decide if they want blood given to the police or fire/paramedics team. All donors will receive a T-shirt and a $5 Amazon eGift card.
Saunders started giving her O positive blood in high school.
“Never did I think I would need it myself,” Saunders said.
She encourages other people to give as well, especially people with O positive blood because their blood can be used by everyone. Many people refrain from giving because of a fear of needles.
“It’s a quick needle prick and it’s over in half a second,” Saunders explained. “That’s half a second that could give somebody the rest of their life. At least try to give because you don’t know who you can save.”
The American Red Cross is amazing for obtaining blood and distributing blood for people who need it to live, she said.
“If I didn’t have a transfusion, I wouldn’t be here,” Saunders said. “I wouldn’t have a chance to save someone else’s life. I wouldn’t have a chance to impact others’ lives. It’s like a revolving door of help.”
