Bloodworks 101
Bloodworks Northwest
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Bloodworks 101 is a bi-weekly podcast produced by Bloodworks Northwest, a Seattle-based blood bank and research center. Episodes are designed to inspire and educate listeners to donate time, money or blood. On Bloodworks 101 you'll meet experts who can discuss everything from the importance of blood donation to trypanophobia (fear of needles). You'll meet a man who survived leukemia with the help of 267 transfusions, a 79-year-old nurse whose plasma helped those suffering from COVID-19, and a five-year-old boy who beat stage IV Neuroblastoma thanks to blood donors he'll never know and is today an inspiration to our whole region. These are just a few of the stories you'll hear on Bloodworks 101, hosted by Emmy Award-winning producer John Yeager, who's also the Senior Media Content Strategist at Bloodworks. John is joined by a team of producers including gifted storytellers Bill Harper, Helen Pitlick and Juan Cotto.
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"The Youngbloods": Cal Raleigh, Olivia Moultrie & Tariq Woolen (S4 E26)
26 year-old Cal Raleigh is a catcher for the Seattle Mariners, 24 year old Tariq Wollen is a corner back with the Seattle Seahawks and at 17, midfielder Olivia Moultrie from the Portland Thorns is the youngest female professional soccer player in the United States.
All three have promising careers ahead but there's something else they have in common, a strong desire to make a difference in their community by advocating for the cause of a healthy and sustainable blood supply. Recently, Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager got a chance to sit down and talk with all three of these "Youngbloods."
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May 18, 2023
"Where The Heart Lives"- Converge Media's TraeAnna Holiday (S4 E25)
In an effort to reach out to young and BIPOC donors, Bloodworks Northwest is teaming up with The Residency, a local nonprofit seeking to build a powerful community of young hip-hop artists equipped with the artistic and leadership skills, business acumen, and mentorship necessary to become professional artists and cultural change makers. The campaign is called, "Where The Heart Lives."
Success in this campaign also depends on local community leaders like Converge Media's TraeAnna Holiday. Bloodworks 101 producer spoke to TraeAnna recently on the importance of the campaign and how the issue of blood donation has touched her family.
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May 11, 2023
"A Mother's Day Appeal": Cord Blood Recipient Dr. Alexes Harris UW Dept. of Sociology (S4 E24)
Sunday is Mother's Day, a day set aside to honor moms everywhere. But if your life was saved because one day, a mom decided to donate her cord blood stem cells, Mother's Day has a whole new meaning. Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager spoke with two moms, one who oversees the cord blood program at Bloodworks Bio and the other, who owes her life to the fact there was enough cord blood on hand when her life depended on it.
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May 4, 2023
"It was a Big Journey:" The move to 100% apheresis platelets (S4 E23)
We used to say that you can save three lives with each donation because whole blood can be divided into red cells, platelets, and plasma. This just isn’t the case anymore, and that’s actually a good thing for local patients and non-profit blood centers like Bloodworks. That’s because we now collect 100% of our platelets from apheresis. Vicki Finson and Russ Juntenen in our Blood Services department explain why.
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Apr 27, 2023
"You Got Skills, Use 'Em: National Volunteer Month" (S4 E22)
Bloodworks 101 is designed to inspire you to donate either time, money or blood. Since April is National Volunteer Month, we wanted to devote one episode to lifting up the 3,000 volunteers who donate their time to the mission here at Bloodworks Northwest. On this edition, you'll meet three of our finest volunteers and who knows? You may just get the idea to donate your time too.
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Apr 13, 2023
Donor Advised Funds: Contributing to a Cause You Care About: Gene Farrell, Pres & CEO Vanilla & Bloodworks NW Board of Trustees (S4 E21)
It's that time of year again - tax time. So, it's top of mind, right? But did you know there's an easy way to donate to nonprofits like Bloodworks Northwest and get a tax deduction without all the headaches of gathering receipts? On this edition of Bloodworks 101, John Yeager speaks with Gene Farrell, President & CEO of a fintech startup called Vanilla. Gene's also a member of Bloodworks' Board of Trustees and an expert when it comes to contributing to a cause you care about.
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Mar 30, 2023
"A League of Her Own: Ingrid Russell-Narcise Seattle Mariners" (S4 E20)
March is Women's History Month, a time set aside to honor the contributions of women in this nation. But with spring in the air, it's also time for baseball, since today is Opening Day at T-Mobile Park for the Seattle Mariners.
Bloodworks 101 contributor Juan Cotto spoke with Ingrid Russell-Narcise from the Mariners front office about baseball, about how women have changed the game and like any baseball fans this time of year, they talked about possibilities.
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Mar 16, 2023
"For me, it's personal: Dr. Raymond Adili" (S4 E19)
Why did Dr. Reheman (Raymond) Adili join Bloodworks Research Institute? "Simple answer is: Bloodworks saves lives." But, like the blood clotting mechanisms he studies, there isn't just one, simple explanation. Learn more about our newest Principal Investigator at https://www.bloodworksnw.org/researchers/adili.
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Mar 9, 2023
"Kyle Boynton - By Day: Mild Mannered Platelet Recruiter. By Night: Award-Winning Film Producer." (S4 E18 Bonus)
By day, Kyle Boynton is a mild mannered platelet donor recruiter. But by night (and on weekends), he writes and produces wacky short horror films that are drawing attention from film critics and professionals all over the world. With the Academy Awards coming up Sunday night, we thought it'd be especially timely to share a special bonus episode of Bloodworks 101. In this episode, contributor Helen Pitlick gets Kyle to talk about his two favorite things: movies and saving lives.
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Mar 3, 2023
"We're The O'Connells, Dammit: Christine O'Connell & the Virtual Drive in Sweet Jane's Honor" (S4 E17)
On St. Patrick's Day, 2017, 3-year-old Jane O'Connell was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer. Within weeks, she was receiving regular blood and platelet transfusions. Her mother, Christine says it was like "watering a dry plant." When the O'Connell's family and friends asked how they could help, the answer was simple: donate blood. Five years later Jane is cancer free and as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, her family now hosts a virtual blood drive so other kids like Jane can get the transfusions they need.
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Feb 23, 2023
BONUS EDITION "Not A Level Playing Field - The Impact of the Cord Blood Shortage on Black Americans: Dr. Christina Melief Bloodworks Bio" (S4 E16)
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate acheivements of Black Americans but it also gives us a chance to look at the road ahead and what needs to be done. As Bloodworks 101 host John Yeager discovered, when it comes to mothers and babies in our Black community, a significant cord blood shortage today is making the playing field, anything but level. And as Dr. Christina Melief at Bloodworks Bio tells us, that impact may last decades.
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Feb 16, 2023
"7:45 on a Friday Morning: The Northwest Blood Coalition at Work in Olympia" (S4 E15)
Across the state and the country, the donor base is aging and younger donors just don’t have the awareness to step up and fill the need. By bringing together all the places anyone could give blood in Washington – Bloodworks, Cascade, Vitalant, and the American Red Cross – we’re hoping to make needed changes at the state level that will help the blood supply throughout the region. Follow Bloodworks on your favorite social media channels to stay up to date with our legislative work.
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Feb 2, 2023
"Black History Month: Connected by Incredible Human Tissue" (S4 E14)
February is Black History Month. What does that mean? Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager sat down with Juan Cotto, Bloodworks' Senior Government Affairs & Community Engagement Strategist as well as former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best for a frank discussion about race and the challenges ahead when it comes to getting more Black people in our community to donate blood.
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Jan 26, 2023
"Platelet Donation: A Cool Superpower" (S4 E13)
Have you ever donated platelets? Platelets are the part of blood that help control bleeding by collecting at the site of an injury and helping for clots. Kyle Boynton, our Donor Center Collection strategist, wants you to try platelet donation if you haven’t. We sat down with Kyle to talk about his work and why this matters so much to patients in the Pacific Northwest.
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Jan 19, 2023
"Put the 'fun' in functional - Kyle McDaniel" (S4 E12)
Bloodworks' regional transportation manager Kyle McDaniel biked his way into a career and a fresh mindset. Learn how one fateful rainy Seattle day delivering blood on the Burke Gilman Trail changed Kyle's life forever.
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Jan 12, 2023
Lifting the Mad Cow Deferral - Dr. Kirsten Alcorn & Meg Hall (S4 E11)
Experts tell us that on January 18th, 2023, Bloodworks Northwest could have access to as many as one thousand new donors in the Pacific Northwest simply because an FDA deferral is being lifted. As Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager tells us, that's because new evidence has led the FDA to remove the deferral requirement associated with time spent in the U.K., France, and Ireland due to the risk of vCJD also known as Mad Cow Disease.
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Jan 5, 2023
"Curt Bailey - The Road Ahead 2023" (S4 E10)
As a New Year begins, Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager spent a few virtual moments with Curt Bailey, Bloodworks Northwest's President and CEO to take a look ahead to 2023 and the challenges facing Bloodworks. As John found out, time was on Bailey's mind, and specifically, the time it'll take the organization to fully recover from the impact of the pandemic.
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Dec 29, 2022
"He Didn't Look Away - Former Seattle Mariner Dan Wilson" (S4 E9)
Former Seattle Mariners catcher Dan Wilson played 12 years for the M's, making the playoffs in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2001 before retiring in 2005. In 2012, Wilson was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame alongside his battery-mate, pitcher Randy Johnson. But as noteworthy as Wilson's career on the field was, it's his work helping Northwest charities over the years that has a lasting impact on his community. Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager caught up with Dan recently at a Pop-Up Blood Drive hosted by the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
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Dec 15, 2022
"State Blood Donor Day 2022 - Juan Cotto" (S4 E8)
Sunday, December 18th, 2017 is a day many people in the Pacific Northwest will never forget, at least not if Bloodworks Northwest's Juan Cotto has his way. That's the date of the tragic Amtrak 501 derailment near DuPont, Washington that killed three, injured dozens and impacted thousands trying to drive between Seattle and Portland for days after the derailment. On that day, Bloodworks was able to send more than 150 units of blood to hospitals in the area. So as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, Juan Cotto has a simple message on this State Blood Donor Day - donate blood, because you just never know when a disaster might hit. And if there's not enough blood on the shelves before a disaster - it'll be too late.
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Dec 1, 2022
"HLA: Transplants & The Science of Uniqueness" (S4 E7)
It can sometimes be a challenge to find two people with the same blood type. It's even harder to find two people with the same HLA type, but this is critical when evaluating organ transplants. Learn how Bloodworks' labs ensure that each lifesaving transplant is a good match.
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Nov 17, 2022
The Point Guard at 12th & Pine: Marshall Hugh (S4 E6)
To describe Marshall Hugh as the front man for Seattle's Marshall Law Band only scratches the surface. Marshall is not only a talented musician and songwriter but he's a strong proponent for positive change in our community. He's also an enthusiastic advocate for Bloodworks Northwest and the cause of blood donation. Why? Well, as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager discovered, it comes from Marshall Hugh's life as a point guard.
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Nov 3, 2022
"Music's In Her Blood" - KEXP's Cheryl Waters (S4 E5)
If you love music and you listen to Seattle's KEXP, you probably know who Cheryl Waters is. As an announcer at KEXP, Cheryl has been part of Seattle's musical landscape for more than 20 years. Because of live performances and interviews on YouTube, which she's hosted, she also has a following of music lovers all over the world. But did you know she's a strong advocate for blood donation and a regular blood donor? As Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, there's a very good reason why.
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Oct 20, 2022
"Know Your Bloodworks Meme" (S4 E4)
Perhaps you've seen it on Tumblr, Reddit, or Know Your Meme: a photo of one of Bloodworks' old donation buses, zoomed in a few times, with a darkly funny caption. It came out in 2016 but still resurfaces today. We talked with meme creator Isaac Marion (who, by the way, is also a best-selling author) to get the story.
The meme: https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1068182-stock-photography
More about Isaac: https://isaacmarion.com/
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Oct 6, 2022
"At the Heart of Blood Research" (S4 E3)
What if we could prevent a $6 billion medical problem impacting thousands of Americans? A groundbreaking collaboration between cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Lindner and Bloodworks Research Institute could play a critical role in understanding heart valve disease. We talked with Jonathan about this work and how science benefits from teamwork and transparency.
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Sep 22, 2022
"In The Names of Their Children: Christine O'Connell's Cancer Moms" (S4 E2)
Ask anyone who's ever dealt with a "cancer mom" and they'll tell you that they're tough as nails and never want to hear the odds. They'll also tell you that donating blood is huge. That's the message that Christine O'Connell and her "cancer moms" are spreading right now because September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager takes us to the Bloodworks' Bellevue Donor Center where he shares the powerful story of Christine and her friends, some of whom have lost their kids to cancer. But regardless the outcome of their life and death stories, they're all here, donating blood in the Names of Their Children.
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Sep 9, 2022
"Wounded Hearts Beat the Loudest" Sarah & Greyson Ouellette's Single Ventricle Story
Recently-four-year-old Greyson Ouellette wasn’t even born yet when his parents, Sarah and Brian, found out he had a heart defect. At her 20-week full anatomy scan, Sarah’s care team determined that the ventricle of Greyson’s heart was already significantly smaller than normal size, meaning that he would be born with Single Ventricle Disease (SVD), a rare congenital heart defect that affects just five out of every 100,000 newborns in America each year. Babies born with SVD require surgery immediately after birth, often one or more afterwards and, in some cases, need a heart transplant later in life.
Today, Greyson has had two open-heart surgeries in his only four years of life but is doing well, playing with his older twin brothers and attending preschool.
During all of Greyson’s treatments, procedures, and inpatient stays, Sarah promised herself that once Greyson was stable, she would find a way to families struggling with this rare disease. She believed not enough was being…
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Aug 25, 2022
"The Final Four" (S3 E35)
Many of us connect with loved ones over dinner, drinks, or backyard barbeques. Not this local group of friends: for over 40 years, they've come together to catch up while donating blood. Now it's down to the final four: Bob, Sue, Guy, and Al, who tell the story of this remarkable friendship in their own words.
Read more: https://seattlerefined.com/lifestyle/bloodworks-nw-donate-blood-seattle
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Aug 11, 2022
ENCORE: "Strings that Bind: Elisa's Donor Story"
We first shared Elisa Barston’s story last year as part of our Music’s in our Blood campaign, which connected with more than ten thousand new and re-engaged blood donors. Music’s back, and this time around we’ve doubled that goal: we’re hoping to hit 20,000 donors. Elisa’s reason for donating is just as relevant as ever – she made her most recent donation on her mom’s birthday.
Learn more about the campaign: https://www.bloodworksnw.org/music
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Aug 4, 2022
"Roe v. Wade's Impact on Blood Transfusion" (S3 E34)
Bloodworks supports essential healthcare in all its forms. Reliable access to safe, medical abortion is a public health issue. As the transfusion experts in our region, we are concerned with the potential for dangerous outcomes, including bleeding and death, when pregnant individuals are left without safe and timely access to abortion. Dr. Kirsten Alcorn explains how the Roe V. Wade reversal may impact the blood supply in our region.
Our official statement: https://www.bloodworksnw.org/about/news/impact-roe-v-wade-on-transfusion
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Jul 29, 2022
"Transfusions in the Field Part 2: Lt. Michael Barokas, Seattle Fire Dept." (S3 E33)
Ever heard of a lactaided ringer? Do you know the difference between blunt and pentrating trauma? Today, in Part Two of our special Bloodworks 101 series entitled, "Transfusions in the Field," Lieutenant Michael Barokas, a Medical Services Officer for Seattle's Medic One will answer those questions as we take you behind-the-scenes in the life and death battle that can happen every time Barokas leaves on an emergency. It's also a battle where blood donors play a big role, as producer John Yeager found out.
(TW: This episode contains graphic references to the effects of gun violence and suicide.)
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Jul 28, 2022
"Transfusions in the Field Part 1: Dr. Michael Sayre, Harborview Medical Center" (S3 E32)
Ever wonder what happens to your blood once you donate? Well, as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, sometimes it goes to the front line where seconds count in the battle between life and death.
Today, in the first of a special two-part series about Transfusions in the Field, you'll meet Dr. Michael Sayre from Seattle's Harborview Medical Center who plays a crucial role in making sure your blood get to where it needs to be.
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Jul 26, 2022
"Wounded Hearts Beat the Loudest" Sarah & Greyson Ouellette's Single Ventricle Story
Recently-four-year-old Greyson Ouellette wasn’t even born yet when his parents, Sarah and Brian, found out he had a heart defect. At her 20-week full anatomy scan, Sarah’s care team determined that the ventricle of Greyson’s heart was already significantly smaller than normal size, meaning that he would be born with Single Ventricle Disease (SVD), a rare congenital heart defect that affects just five out of every 100,000 newborns in America each year. Babies born with SVD require surgery immediately after birth, often one or more afterwards and, in some cases, need a heart transplant later in life.
Today, Greyson has had two open-heart surgeries in his only four years of life but is doing well, playing with his older twin brothers and attending preschool.
During all of Greyson’s treatments, procedures, and inpatient stays, Sarah promised herself that once Greyson was stable, she would find a way to families struggling with this rare disease. She believed not enough was being…
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Jul 14, 2022
"Naomi Strong: It All Started with a Conversation" (S3 E31)
Everyone has a reason to walk into a blood donation center and donate. For Seattle's Sharelle Klaus, the founder of DRY Soda, it all started with a conversation she had with her good friend, Mark Dyce. But now Sharelle's on a mission because after that conversation her reason to donate blood became personal. Here's the latest edition of Bloodworks 101 with your host John Yeager.
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Jun 30, 2022
"Ethan Stowell: Restaurants Just Show Up" - (S3 E30)
When our communities need help, "restaurants just show up," according to famed Seattle-area Chef Ethan Stowell. In this episode of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager sat down with Ethan as Bloodworks wrapped up its "Savor Life. Save a Life." blood donation awareness campaign and, as you'll hear in this episode, the help from the culinary community "showing up" for patients in need couldn't have come at a more critical time.
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Jun 16, 2022
"Unsung Heroes:" Randy Small's Heart Transplant (S3 E29)
Seattle resident Randy Small had his first heart attack at just 29. After growing up witnessing his mother struggle with heart disease, he wasn't surprised when he, too, was diagnosed. "That began the long, slow slide to transplant," he says. But then he got a phone call that changed everything, gave him a new family, and taught him about what he calls “collateral benefit.”
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Jun 2, 2022
"Binge Watching with Jill Gallagher" (S3 E28)
What have you been binge watching during the pandemic? We all have our favorites and why we love them. Seattle's Jill Gallagher has a reason why she's binging and it's literally saving lives. Producer John Yeager explains on this edition of Bloodworks 101.
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May 19, 2022
"Amanda Kelly: Sometimes It Takes Something Personal" (S3 E27)
It's 2009 and Vashon Island's Amanda Kelly is in the fight for her life with a flesh-eating bacterium. To this day, no one knows how she got it. Amanda spent weeks in the hospital. She was given last rites. All seemed lost. But thanks in part to transfused blood from Bloodworks Northwest donors, today Amanda Kelly is a mother of five with a brand new outlook on life. As Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager tells us, that's because sometimes it takes something personal to hammer home a deep appreciation for the importance of blood donation.
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May 12, 2022
"From the Heart, to the Heart:" Chef Thierry Rautureau
French-born Chef Thierry Rautureau has been a pillar of the Seattle culinary for decades as the visionary of such seminal restaurants as Rover's Loulay, and Luc. When we approached him to join our Culinary Coalition in support of blood donation, he eagerly agreed and said in his interview with Bill Harper, "without blood, there is no life." Well said, Chef. À table!
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May 5, 2022
"Elaine Sonntag-Johnson: A Mother Against The Odds" (S3 E26)
At age 30, Elaine Sonntag Johnson was loving her career as a family therapist, blissfully married, and eager to start a family. But following blood tests from her OB/GYN, she was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (or PNH for short) and given just 3-5 years to live. In an ode to Mothers' Day and moms everywhere, this is an episode of resilience and hope; that diagnosis was 37 years ago, Elaine and husband Daniel have two adopted children in their 20s, and thanks to a breakthrough medication for PNH patients, King County's most prolific blood recipient (over 1,000 units) rarely needs blood anymore.
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Apr 18, 2022
Tiffany McDermott: Volunteer & Cord Blood Evangelist (S3 E25)
Blood has always been a part of Tiffany McDermott's life. The recently-retired OB/GYN first grew up in a family of blood donors, then, throughout her career, witnessed firsthand the impact a unit of blood can have on a new mother or her baby if there are complications in childbirth. Now, retired and in her work as a Bloodworks Northwest volunteer, she travels to area hospitals to share the importance of cord blood collection and even help train staff. Listen in to hear where her passion comes from, what her hopes are for the Bloodworks cord blood collection program, and why, for so long, she's wanted to be a Bloodworks volunteer.
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Apr 12, 2022
"It Takes All Types at Three Magnets Brewery" (S3 E24)
Something special is brewing at Olympia's Three Magnets Brewery. It's a new blood orange red IPA that's part of a blood donation awareness campaign with Bloodworks Northwest called, "Savor Life Save a Life." And on this edition of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager tells us that there's a lot more to this special beer than ingredients like hops and barley and even the creativity of the brewers. If you want to find the heart of this story, just ask Sara Reilly, one of the co-owners at Three Magnets.
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Apr 1, 2022
"From the Heart, to the Heart: Chef Thierry Rautureau" (S3 E23)
French-born Chef Thierry Rautureau has been a pillar of the Seattle culinary for decades as the visionary of such seminal restaurants as Rover's Loulay, and Luc. When we approached him to join our Culinary Coalition in support of blood donation, he eagerly agreed and said in his interview with Bill Harper, "without blood, there is no life." Well said, Chef. À table!
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Mar 31, 2022
"Market-to-Heart: Traci Calderon, Nourishing Community" (S3 E 22)
Traci Calderon at Atrium Kitchen in Pike Place Market "backed into" life as a restaurateur here in Seattle. She started Atrium Kitchen by providing free and more importantly, nutritious meals to seniors and others in need in the Market neighborhood. She also made a living as a caterer. But then in March of 2020, when the pandemic hit - she watched it all disappear. Just like that. What she did next is one of the reasons she's such a valuable culinary partner is the Savor Life Save a Life campaign.
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Mar 17, 2022
"Walk the Talk: Why These Journalists are Donors" (S3 E21)
Denise Whitaker, Gregg Hersholt and Brian Callanan all make a living by telling stories. They're all Pacific Northwest award-winning journalists. But as Bloodworks 101's John Yeager discovers in this episode of Bloodworks 101, they all make a difference in their community by donating blood and by "walking the talk".
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Mar 3, 2022
"Savor Life. Save a Life." - Jason & Deborah Friend Wilson (S3 E20)
From March 3 until June 30 2022, Bloodworks Northwest will partner with dozens in the Seattle culinary community in hopes of recruiting 10,000 new or re-engaged donors. It's called the Savor Life, Save a Life Campaign. As Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, for a couple of those culinary partners, James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson and his wife, Deborah Friend Wilson - co-owners of the Bellevue restaurant The Lakehouse - the reason they're involved in a blood donation campaign is personal.
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Feb 17, 2022
Bloodworks CEO Curt Bailey: "Inherently Optimistic" (S3 E19)
First Bloodworks 101 episode published as a 2022 International Academy of Arts & Sciences Anthem Award Winner!
Every few months, we get the entire Bloodworks Northwest staff together for a "Town Hall" to check in, regroup, celebrate successes, and make ambitious future plans. In the last one on 12/1/2021, Bloodworks 101's own John Yeager interviewed Bloodworks President & CEO Curt Bailey on why he's optimistic for the future, what we've learned in these pandemic years, and how he feels that together, we've become not only a stronger community blood center, but a stronger community too.
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Feb 3, 2022
Dr. Ashley Ellis: "Why Everything is Everything" - (S3 E18)
Dr. Ashley Ellis, the Assistant Medical Director at Bloodworks Northwest could never figure out why Black History Month was only confined to February. Here at Bloodworks, she's deeply involved in the "All of Us," a research program that aims to level the playing field when it comes to health care. She's also been at the forefront of our response to the recent national blood emergency and its impact on Transfusion Services. That's why her pager is always going off. What drives a committed professional like this? As Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager tells us, it all started with Ashley's big sister, Sonya.
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Jan 27, 2022
"It Takes a Village: Dr. Jorge Reyes" (S3 E17)
We've all heard the expression, "It takes a village." Where it came from isn't 100 percent clear. But what is certain is that when it comes to our community's response to the current national blood shortage - it's up to all of us.
On this edition of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager speaks with Dr. Jorge Reyes, the Chief of Transplant at the University of Washington and Seattle Childrens' Hospital. And as John finds out, for Reyes, the impact of not having enough blood on hand became very real and very personal.
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Jan 18, 2022
"When Corgis Fly: Leo Talks Platelets" - (S3 E16)
Leo Notenboom is many things: 342nd employee at Microsoft, entrepreneur, animal lover, amateur radio operator, host of the Annual Pacific Northwest Corgi Picnic, dedicated platelet donor. In this episode of Bloodworks 101, listen in as Helen Pitlick interviews Leo on his many passions while he's donating platelets for the 105th time and discovers it's his optimistic nature that motivates him in everything he does, from wilderness animal rescue to platelet donation. To learn more about Leo and see photos from the Corgi Picnic(!), visit here: https://blog.bloodworksnw.org/national-blood-donor-month-leo-notenboom/
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Jan 16, 2022
"Juan Cotto: Conversations at the Capitol" - (S3 E15)
In today's polarized political times it's hard to find an issue that actually brings people together but that's exactly what Juan Cotto, Bloodworks' Senior Government Affairs and Community Engagement Strategist does every time he talks to Olympia lawmakers about blood donation. And as he tells Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager, that makes Juan a busy guy ... on both sides of the aisle. Oh, and he's a big football fan as well.
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Jan 4, 2022
"When a Platelet Donor Meets His Recipient: Dan Ertel" - (S3 E14)
It's rare that a blood donor and a recipient get to connect but that's exactly what happens on this episode of Bloodworks 101 when frequent platelet donor Dan Ertel meets Mack Bell, a 30-year-old African-American man living with cerebral palsy, who contracted a potentially-deadly blood condition called aplastic anemia. That's a deficiency of all types of blood cells caused by failure of bone marrow development.
Mack, as you'll discover, was the recipient of several transfusions that played a big role in the effort to save his life. So, here's what happens when someone with a lot to be grateful for gets to thank someone who wasn't expecting it. Not by a long shot.
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Dec 22, 2021
"A Trip to Cabo: Heidi Christensen's Meet & Greet with Macklemore" - (S3 E13)
When local real estate agent Heidi Christensen made a blood donation recently, little did she know it would lead to a 4 day/4 night trip to see Macklemore in a December concert in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and a special backstage meet and greet with the multiple-Grammy-winning artist after the show. That's because Heidi's donation meant that her name was entered in a Donate and Win Music Experience as part of Bloodworks' Music's In Our Blood Campaign. The campaign is helping to generate awareness of the critical need for blood through music’s ability to drive connection, and recruit 10,000 new donors by the end of the year. So, as Christmas grows near, here's a special bonus "stocking stuffer" episode of Bloodworks 101 from producer John Yeager.
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Dec 20, 2021
"Strings that Bind: Elisa's Donor Story" (S3 E12)
Elisa Barston, principal second violinist with the Seattle Symphony, knows the power of both music and blood: her mom, Gilda, gave her an appreciation for both. Elisa explains how her mom's fight against leukemia opened her eyes to the importance of platelet donation.
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Dec 17, 2021
"We Weren't Going to Be Able to Help Them" - Vicki Finson (S3 E11)
Vicki Finson is the Executive V.P. for Blood Services at Bloodworks. It's Finson's job to ensure that there's enough blood on hand when an emergency happens, like the Downtown Seattle rush hour shooting in January of 2020 or the Amtrak 501 Derailment near Lacey, Washington on December 18th, 2017 that killed three, injured dozens and impacted thousands of drivers along the I-5 Corridor between Seattle and Portland for days. Bloodworks Northwest was able to send 150 units of blood to hospitals near the derailment that day. But what if it happened today? Would there be enough blood on the shelves right now? The answer, as Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager tells us - isn't what you want to hear.
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Dec 13, 2021
"State Blood Donor Day 2021: A Way to Engage the Community" - Juan Cotto (S3 E10)
Saturday, December 18th marks four years since the derailment of Amtrak 501 that killed three and injured dozens. But it's also the Second Annual State Blood Donor Day in Washington and Oregon. One of those behind the idea of setting aside a day to honor blood donation as well as first responders is Juan Cotto, the Senior Government Affiars and Community Engagement Specialist for Bloodworks Northwest. In this episode of Bloodworks 101, Juan explains the thinking behind the Day and why the concept of mainting an adequate blood supply is so important - before an emergency happens.
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Nov 18, 2021
Bonus Episode: "Trauma Nurse & Grunge Bassist Guy Maddison on Why Music's In His Blood" - (S3 E8)
Seattle rock band Mudhoney is often seen as instrumental (pun intended) in the creation of the grunge genre of the 1990s. But few people know that its bassist is also a nurse at the Pacific Northwest's only Level 1 trauma center, Harborview Medical Center, and has built up a career learning on every shift the importance of having donated blood on hand.
As part of Bloodworks' "Music's In Our Blood" initiative, here Guy discusses his perspective on the critical nature of blood for trauma patients at Harborview, summing it up with "If we don't have that blood available these people will die."
This short bonus episode of Bloodworks 101 ends with host, Bloodworks employee, and, cancer survivor, and 267-unit recipient Bill Harper making a personal plea for blood donations this holiday season. "End the Year with Hope," he says, and we think that's a great idea.
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Nov 18, 2021
ENCORE EDITION: "People Just Started Showing Up" - State Blood Donor Day - (S2 E9)
ENCORE EDITION: Thursday, November 18th, 2021 marks the day Amtrak Cascades service resumes on the Point Defiance Bypass near DuPont, Washington, the site of the Amtrak 501 derailment in December 2017.
Saturday, December 18th is the second annual State Blood Donor Day in Washington and Oregon, a day set aside to mark the 4th anniversary of the Amtrak 501 Derailment near Olympia, Washington and critical importance of blood donation. Podcast Producer John Yeager spoke to Bloodworks staffers and volunteers on hand that day at the Olympia Donor Center where on December 18th, 2017, when word of the the deadly crash spread, "people just started showing up."
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Nov 2, 2021
"When Minutes Count - How SiDx Blood Typing Will Help Save Lives" (S3 E7)
On this edition of Bloodworks 101, you'll find out about SIDx and a brand new rapid, near-patient blood typing instrument. It's also about one of the Northwest's best-kept secrets - The Bloodworks Research Institute in Seattle where this revolutionary approach to blood typing will save help save lives- when minutes count.
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Oct 29, 2021
"The Blood is Fake, the Stress is Real" (S2 E3)
Unless you're donating blood, it's generally supposed to be in your body. When it's not, something is often wrong. Blood, even the fake stuff you see everywhere around Halloween, evokes a primal reaction.
In this episode of Bloodworks 101, we talk to Cara Elise of Georgetown Morgue, Jolene Obertin of Seattle Reparatory Theater, and Nathan Page of UWild about how fake blood can create real emotion.
But wait, there's more! Jolene shares a few spooky recipes to craft your own fake blood.
*Option 1: This will wash out of a lot of things (but probably not everything)*
* 1 bottle corn syrup
* 250 ml chocolate syrup
* 1 C water
* 1T (heaping) corn starch
* 1 1/2T (heaping) Coffee Mate
* 3 drops yellow food coloring
* red food coloring to make it look natural
Heat the corn syrup and chocolate syrup in a pot, Dissolve the corn starch in water and mix into the syrup.
Add Coffee Mate ( this will be a bit lumpy-it goes away eventually) and food coloring.
If you want it extra t…
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Oct 19, 2021
ENCORE EDITION "A Dark Cloud Over Christmas - Caitlin Roberts Story of Survival" (S3 E6)
TW: Domestic Violence
On October 19th, 2021, a Virtual Blood Drive begins, honoring Eugene's Caitlin (pronounced CAT-lin) Roberts and the story of a brutal attack in her own home just five days before Christmas, 2019. Once you hear it you'll never forget it. Nor will you forget the enduring optimism she reflects as she tells her story. Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager couldn't think of a better time to publish, "A Dark Cloud Over Christmas - Caitlin Roberts Story of Survival." We hope this episode will help you make the decision to donate as part of that virtual drive. Don't forget, the code to share with the donation center or Pop-Up when you arrive to donate is FSL.
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Oct 18, 2021
Like Father Like Son - KEXP's Reeves Richards & Dr. Ken Richards: Music's In Our Blood (S3 E5)
It's no secret that for KEXP announcer Reeves Richards, music is in his blood. He credits his father, Dr. Ken Richards with introducing him to classic rockers like AC/DC back when Reeves was just a kid, growing up. But today there's something else that Reeves gets from his dad - a deep appreciation for how important it is to give blood. In this edition of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager shows us that in this family the apple doesn't fall far from the ... well you know.
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Oct 4, 2021
Medical Research Needs All of Us: Henrietta Lacks' Legacy (S3 E4)
This is the story of two remarkable two women -- Henrietta Lacks and Sonya Chris Ellis -- separated by decades but immortal to those who carry on their legacies, as told by two remarkable women -- Lacks' great-granddaughter Victoria Baptiste and Bloodworks' Dr. Ashley Ellis -- the lessons their families want us all to learn from their lives, and why diverse participation in medical research, such as the All of Us Research Program, is vital.
* Learn more about All of Us: https://go.joinallofus.org/bwnw
* Continue the conversation at the HeLa100 Colloquium on October 4, 2021: https://hela100.org/2021-colloquium
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Sep 29, 2021
Fly like an Eagle: Avian Blood Transfusion (S3 E3)
You may know that cats and dogs can give blood, but what about birds of prey? Dr. Nicki Rosenhagen of PAWS in Lynnwood, WA joins Bloodworks 101 to tell the story of Bey, a bald eagle found down in West Seattle, and the golden eagle who donated blood to save her life.
An update on this hero: https://issuu.com/paws_wa/docs/minimag_08-30-21_issue_9-issuu/s/13345757
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Sep 11, 2021
Natasha's New Car: A 9-11 Legacy (S3 E2)
We all have our reasons for donating blood that finally compel us to schedule an appointment. Whidbey Island's Natasha Vanderlinden had to overcome her significant fear of needles but as host John Yeager tells us in this episode of "Bloodworks 101," once she overcame that fear, you'll never guess what happened. Natasha's story didn't happen overnight. It would play out over 20 years. And little did she know that it would begin on one of the most horrific days in American history, September 11th. 2001.
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Sep 1, 2021
Hope, A Bone Marrow Transplant & A Family Secret: A Sister's Search (S3 E1)
This is a story about a bone marrow transplant, a mother’s dying wish, a long-held family secret, and how one way to find your sister is by saving her life fourteen years before you met her for the first time. And how all those things came together from six states away in a way that even the people involved still find hard to believe.
When Judy Larraga’s oncologist told her she needed a bone marrow transplant to be cured of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in 2004, she consented to the aggressive procedure immediately, despite the risks and challenging treatment course it entailed. And as a Hispanic woman, her chances of finding a suitable donor match to even get the transplant were just 46%. But she never lost hope that there’d be someone out there to help her.
Who that “somebody” turned out to be would change Judy’s life forever, strengthen her faith in God, and bring a whole new dimension to a family secret her mother revealed on her death bed. It would be 15 years before she…
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Jul 19, 2021
"Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship" - Classic Quarantine Cinema (S2 E23)
How did Bloodworks staff get through quarantine? Bloodworks 101's own John Yeager and Bill Harper, along with Donor Center Collections Strategist Kyle Boynton, lost themselves in the magic of movies - and, through this, found connection.
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Jul 1, 2021
"A Matter of Life & Death" - Dr. Jorge Reyes & Dr. Saman Arbabi (S2 E22)
We throw around the expression, "It's a matter of life and death," so frequently that the words can lose their impact. However, when you talk to trauma and transplant surgeons at the University of Washington Hospital and Seattle Children's Hospital about the consequences of not having enough blood on hand for critical surgeries - that's exactly what they'll tell you. It's literally a matter of life and death, especially with a summer holiday weekend like July 4th approaching, when emergency rooms typically see an increase in trauma cases rushing in.
On this episode of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager spoke with two noted local surgeons, Dr. Jorge Reyes and Dr. Saman Arbabi about the importance of having an adequate blood supply for the life and death decisions they have to make every single day.
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Jun 9, 2021
Dr. Charles Drew - "More Than a Hollywood Ending" (S2 E21)
Dr. Charles Drew is known as the Father of Blood Banking. He’s credited with saving thousands of lives during World War II after coming up with the concept of the blood bank but he resigned after a ruling that the blood of African Americans would be segregated.
Drew died in an automobile accident in April of 1950. To this day, some believe the story that this pioneer in the blood banking industry was denied admittance to a local hospital after the accident because he was Black. But is it true?
To answer that question and many others about Dr. Charles Drew, contributor Juan Cotto got a chance to talk to Drew’s daughter, Sylvia Drew Ivie, the Special Assistant to the President at Charles Drew University in Los Angeles.
So on this episode of Bloodworks 101 we attempt to separate the man from the myth, and celebrate a true pioneer in blood science whose legacy endures today.
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May 17, 2021
"Meet the Investigators" (S2 E20)
We find investigators in a lot of places, mainly in movie and television crime dramas. But there is a group of dedicated investigators at the Bloodworks Research Institute in Seattle that looks into cases of life and death every day. In this edition of Bloodworks 101, host John Yeager introduces us to that group; Dr. Jose Lopez, Sumi Paranjape, Dr. Moritz Stolla, Dr. Jing-Fei Dong and Dr. Jill Johnsen. In this episode entitled, "Meet the Investigators," you'll learn that what drives them is a deep and abiding desire to save lives.
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May 3, 2021
"Changing the Ending: Blood Donation for Research" - (S2 E19)
Bloodworks has data that says a lot of potential donors don’t give because they don’t think they’re eligible. And it’s true that many folks in the US do not meet the FDA’s strict eligibility requirements to give blood to another person. But there are opportunities for nearly everyone, regardless of FDA requirements, to make a big impact.
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Apr 17, 2021
"Bombardier Blood" Chris Bombardier - (S2 E18)
It's hard enough to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. Now try to do it with a life-threatening blood disorder like Hemophilia B that can cause serious internal bleeding. That's exactly what Colorado-based mountaineer Chris Bombardier attempted to do in 2017 when he produced a documentary called, "Bombardier Blood." Recently, Chris spoke with Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager and unpacked the message of the documentary, and shared the reason why he sought not only to climb Everest, but the rest of the world's Seven Summits.
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Apr 12, 2021
"Total Collapse of Blood Collections" - Curt Bailey (S2 E17)
One year ago, as the enormity of the Covid-19 pandemic began to reveal itself, the blood supply in the Pacific Northwest suddenly became perilously close to total collapse. That's one of the things that Bloodworks Northwest President and CEO remembers about what life was like here at what Bailey calls, "the epicenter of the pandemic." But as he tells Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager, it's how our donors responded that really stands out to this day. That, and something called a "Pop-Up" Donor Center.
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Apr 6, 2021
"I Dodged a Bullet" - Peter Bonow (S2 E16)
In April of 2020, long before vaccines came on the scene, one of the most promising treatments for those suffering with the coronavirus was Covid-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP). Back then, in some of the darkest days of the pandemic, Bloodworks Northwest started looking for those people who'd contracted Covid-19 and had enough antibodies in their blood to qualify as CCP donors. Bloodworks was looking for people like Vashon Island's Peter Bonow. In this edition of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager speaks with Bonow and relays a special message from one of those grateful recipients who says CCP made the difference in the their lives.
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Mar 10, 2021
"Coming Home from Cancerland" - The Declan & Lauren Reagan Story (S2 E15)
Even though an aggressive form of leukemia took his life at age 6, Declan Reagan’s story is about living with cancer, not dying from it. In this episode of Bloodworks 101, his mom Lauren describes Declan’s penchant for pushing limits and breaking rules, and her determination to find a way for him to see the new Jurassic World movie that was set to debut 6 months after he was given just 2 weeks to live. On their side in this impossible quest? A mom on a mission, hope, and Chris Pratt. You’ve never heard a story like this before.
Two years after Declan's passing, Lauren took a job at Bloodworks in Vancouver, WA and walked into the office to see faces she remembered from Declan's memorial service. "It's like coming home," she says of her new position working for the local blood center that prolonged her son's life. In her work today, she continues Declan's legacy, and we are honored to share her story.
Producer: Bill Harper
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Mar 2, 2021
"Blind Spots" - Dr. Jill Johnsen (S2 E14)
In this special Women's History Month edition of "Bloodworks 101," Dr. Jill Johnsen from the Bloodworks Research Institute talks about why she thinks Covid-19 is disproportionately impacting women in science. As she tells host John Yeager, while there has been much progress made by women in the field, there's still a lot of work that needs to be done.
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Feb 22, 2021
"When The Deck is Stacked Against You" - Mack Bell - (S2 E13)
Seattle's Mack Bell is a 30 year-old African-American man living with Cerebral Palsy. Four years ago, it didn't look like Bell was going to make it. But today, thanks to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the support and comfort from his former high school principal as well as dozens of Bloodworks Northwest blood donors he'll never know, Mack is able to tell his story of survival. And as we discover on this edition of "Bloodworks 101," Mack Bell had to come face-to-face with something we're all adjusting to - more than a year of social distancing.
Part of Mack's story is the fact that as an African-American, the deck literally is stacked against him in his effort to find a suitable match as he fought Aplastic Anemia. If you'd like more information about this go to: bethematch.org/
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Feb 20, 2021
"Life is a Ballgame" - Dave Sims (S2 E12)
February is Black History Month, a time set aside to recognize the accomplishments African- Americans have made in society as well as honestly face the areas where progress still needs to be made. This episode of "Bloodworks 101," recognizes the accomplishments made by our community partner, the Seattle Mariners who lead Major League Baseball in the number of Black players on their roster (10). Host John Yeager and contributing editor Juan Cotto spoke with long-time M's announcer Dave Sims, a prostate cancer survivor about the importance of blood donation, that league leading distinction and of course they talked baseball.
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Feb 2, 2021
"A Servant Leader" - Oregon State Senator James Manning (S2 E11)
February is Black History Month so our own Juan Cotto spent some time talking with Oregon State Senator, James Manning, an African American leader who's made his presence felt in the lives of his constituents but also in the lives of many people he'll never know.
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Jan 25, 2021
"What a Beautiful Morning it Was" - Beth Newman (S2 E10)
We launched "Bloodworks 101" last January with a story about Bloodworks Northwest blood courier, Tom Newman. The episode was entitled "Paying it Forward with Tom Newman" (S1 E1). It explored why Newman drives all over the Pacific Northwest delivering and picking up lifesaving blood products. It's vital work that Newman does with good humor regardless the traffic or the often rude drivers with whom he shares the road. But as producer John Yeager discovered, there is a compelling reason why Tom Newman does what he does and her name is Beth Newman - Tom's wife. In this episode, we meet Beth Newman and learn how her whole life changed on a beautiful morning in late November, 2007.
In fact, on that day - it hung in balance.
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Jan 12, 2021
"When All That's Left is Hope" ENCORE - Bill Harper (S2 E9)
In this encore edition of "Bloodworks 101," we'll meet Communications Specialist Bill Harper, a gifted storyteller here at Bloodworks Northwest. But in this special encore edition of "Bloodworks 101," that ran on Independence Day, 2020, you'll find out why one of the best stories Bill tells is the one about his own journey and why Independence Day has a special significance for him. When Bill Harper speaks about the value of blood donation - it's with a conviction that comes from hard-earned truth.
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Jan 8, 2021
"I Was Always Happy with the Cookies” - New Car Giveaway 2021 (S2 E8)
Last spring, as the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning, long-time blood donor Tom Baldridge walked into the Bloodworks Northwest Donor Center in Bellingham, Washington to donate blood. He did it to help save lives during the early stages of the pandemic. But little did he know that it would change his life - in a big way.
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Jan 6, 2021
"Always Make Your Free Throws" - Dr. Jose Lopez (S2 E7)
Dr. Jose Lopez was recently named Chief Scientific Officer for the Seattle-based Bloodworks Research Institute. Not bad for a kid who grew up poor in the hills of New Mexico. Though Dr. Lopez faced long odds, his upbringing has helped him discover other diamonds in the rough. The net effect? Lives are saved through important research done there at the Research Institute under his leadership.
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Dec 21, 2020
"I've Never Been That Sick" - Angie Keller's Mom and Convalescent Plasma (S2 E6)
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) in treating those testing positive for the virus has provided a real ray of hope. Back in September, Bloodworks employee Angie Keller's mother was diagnosed with COVID-19. At 81 years old, her risk was significant. Fortunately, Angie's mom was approved to receive CCP treatment, the kind collected at Bloodworks. How'd she do? Find out in this episode of "Bloodworks 101."
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Nov 17, 2020
Ruger: A Different Kind of Blood Hound (S2 E4)
Ruger is a golden retriever who works with Kitsap Search & Rescue but he's also part of a new program Bloodworks Northwest is now offering to search and rescue operations all over the Pacific Northwest. And as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, Ruger may be a pure bred golden retriever but in this case he's a different kind of blood hound.
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Oct 20, 2020
It Happened Overnight: When a Pandemic Meets the Blood Supply
The global coronavirus pandemic has upended just about everything about how we live our lives today, even striking deep and very quickly at the heart of our blood supply.
In this episode of Bloodworks 101, we hear from Bloodworks Executive Vice President of Blood Services and blood industry veteran Vicki Finson – who’s adapted to just about every other manner of natural disaster throughout her career – how she and her team handled this one. “Overnight,” they modified Bloodworks’ entire blood collection infrastructure to the new, socially-distanced normal to make sure patients’ access to blood continued uninterrupted.
Since the first days of the virus, no one knew what was coming next. But one thing’s for sure: The summer is 2020 was nothing if not unprecedented, but it’s the reason why that has us hopeful for what’s to come.
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Jul 24, 2020
Batter Up - Rick Rizzs (S1 E17)
Back in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic first began, it looked like the impact on our ability to collect blood would be devastating. Social distancing guidelines forced our fleet of bloodmobiles off the streets, blood drives at high schools, colleges and businesses were now suddenly a thing of the past.
So Bloodworks Northwest started something called a “Pop-Up” Donor Center at T-Mobile Park, the now-vacant home of the Mariners since the MLB 2020 season was postponed. But their space at the ballpark offered Bloodworks the ability to collect blood while giving Mariners fans a chance to show their support of the team as well as for the cause of maintaining an adequate blood supply. The "Pop-Up" concept has since proven to be so effective that the idea is being tried in other stadiums, theaters and museums across the Pacific Northwest. But the Mariners' Pop-Up Donor Center was where it all began.
The first day of the Mariners Pop-Up Donor Center, some current and former Mariners p…
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Jul 22, 2020
The Day a Heart Stood Still - ENCORE - Sue Nixon Summer Edition (S1 E16)
An update to the remarkable true life story. Seattle's Sue Nixon owes her life to the quick response of genuine Good Samaritans and paramedics at Medic One, the tireless research of scientists at Bloodworks Northwest's Research Institute, and the blood donations of people she may never meet. But it all started The Day a Heart Stood Still.
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Jul 3, 2020
When All That's Left is Hope - Bill Harper (S1 E15)
Communications Specialist Bill Harper is a gifted storyteller here at Bloodworks Northwest. But in this special Independence Day edition of Bloodworks 101, you'll find out why one of the best stories Bill tells is the one about his own journey and why the Fourth of July has a special significance for him. When Bill Harper speaks about the value of blood donation - it's with a conviction that comes from hard-earned truth.
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Jun 29, 2020
What's Blood Got to Do With it? - Dr. Jill Johnsen (S1 E14)
Is there a connection between blood type and risk factors for COVID-19? That's what Dr. Jill Johnsen from the Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute wants to find out. This episode explores that question and others as the search for answers in the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
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Jun 7, 2020
The Grandma with Superpowers - Sheila Julich (S1 E13)
It seems like every day we hear more discouraging news about the rapid and deadly spread of COVID-19. As the death toll passes 100,000, it's hard to be hopeful. However that just means you haven't met 79 year-old Sheila Julich. Sheila is an on-call nurse at Kirkland, Washington's Life Care Center, where the first confirmed cases of COVID were recorded and where 37 lives were lost, many of them Sheila's friends and long-time residents. But as more and more of us become familiar with what convalescent plasma is - more of us come to realize that maybe Sheila Julich represents a sliver of hope.
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May 18, 2020
Not as Expected - Molly's Story (S1 E12)
When Molly Firth arrived at the hospital for the birth of her first baby, she was expecting just that – to have a baby. But never could she have imagined she’d have a maternal hemorrhage and emergently require several units of blood to keep her life. Thanks to Bloodworks, she got them in time, her baby was born healthy, and she views her current position on the organization's board as a "full circle moment."
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May 9, 2020
The Right Side of 50/50 - Isaac Strong (S1 E11)
In 2017, Isaac Williams was diagnosed with high-risk, Stage IV neuroblastoma at just 17 months old. Facing a course of treatment lasting the duration of his life so far, Isaac, his mother Kelli, father Dennis and older brother Isaiah endured the unthinkable, faced their worst nightmares, and clawed their way back to normal life. In this episode, we hear from Dennis and Kelli about their journey, from that awful moment when their world changed forever, to today, when Isaac is, as the slogan was for his blood drive, #IsaacStrong.
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Apr 28, 2020
The Day a Heart Stood Still - Sue Nixon (S1 E10)
The remarkable true story of how Seattle's Sue Nixon owes her life to the quick response of genuine Good Samaritans and paramedics at Medic One, the tireless research of scientists at Bloodworks Northwest's Research Institute, and the blood donations of people she may never meet. But it all started The Day a Heart Stood Still.
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Apr 25, 2020
The Hope of the World - Elizabeth Schneider, Bloodworks' First Convalescent Plasma Donor (S1 E9)
Seattle's Elizabeth Schneider is Bloodworks Northwest's first Convalescent Plasma donor. Convalescent Plasma is donated by those who've tested positive for COVID-19, have recovered and have a clean bill of health for 28 days. In a story with too few happy endings, stories like Elizabeth Schneider's offer the world a measure of something that's been in short supply - hope.
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Apr 22, 2020
Bloodworks Northwest Saved My Life - LinMara Bluebird & Dr. Rebecca Kruse Jarres (S1 E8)
The story of a Bainbridge Island woman, LinMara Bluebird, who says, "Bloodworks Northwest saved my life." Bluebird was diagnosed with a rare form of hemophilia. World class doctors at the Washington Center for Bleeding Disorders say her case was one in a million.
This episode sponsored by USI Insurance and Swedish.
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Apr 9, 2020
A Ray of Hope - Convalescent Plasma with Dr. Rebecca Haley (S1 E7)
As the Medical Director for Bloodworks Bio, Dr. N. Rebecca Haley’s newest project is one that could, if history is any guide, have a big impact in worldwide the fight against COVID-19. Over the past few months, the virus has disrupted public health systems the world over, leaving officials scrambling to respond.
But Dr. Haley is taking a pioneering path with a century-old technique, using antibody-rich “convalescent plasma” from donors who’ve recovered from COVID-19 to transfuse into patients currently sick with it, giving their immune systems a boost that could prove lifesaving. It’s worked with other pandemics, and Dr. Haley thinks it’s worth a try this time too. Listen to find out why.
Co-produced by Bill Harper.
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Mar 27, 2020
Getting Real About Emergencies - Blood Services Executive VP Vicki Finson (S1 E6)
Bloodworks Northwest's Executive Vice President of Blood Services Vicki Finson knows what happens behind the scenes when the blood supply dips to emergency levels. Listen in as she describes her reaction to learning about the February 2020 shooting in downtown Seattle during a severe blood shortage, and her advice to our community to make sure we're ready for the next crisis, including the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
Co-produced by Bill Harper.
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Mar 16, 2020
Born In Crisis - COVID-19 Curt Bailey (S1 E5)
As concern grows over the spread of COVID-19, Bloodworks Northwest, the leading provider of blood in the Pacific Northwest, sounds the alarm. The blood supply in the Pacific Northwest is collapsing. As a result, Bloodworks President & CEO Curt Bailey has a new urgency in his message to donors - "We're not gonna ask anymore." The time to donate is now. In this special episode of Bloodworks 101, Bailey unpacks the thinking behind this new approach to addressing the potential impact of the coronavirus.
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Mar 10, 2020
New Car Giveaway - Mark Gilman (S1 E4)
Imagine winning a brand new car just for donating blood. In this episode, we travel across Puget Sound to Bremerton, Washington and talk to the staff at Haselwood Auto Group who are partnering with Bloodworks Northwest on a unique promotion - a new car giveaway. But there's more to the story than that - a lot more.
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Mar 3, 2020
Seven Times as Smart - Dr. N. Rebecca Haley
Dr. N. Rebecca Haley is Medical Director of Cord Blood Services, the National Marrow Donor Program Donor Center and Apheresis Center at Bloodworks Northwest. She also gives medical direction for Blood Collection Services. She is a hematologist and has more than 20 years of experience in blood center management and biotechnical development. But more than that, Dr. Haley serves as an inspiration to young women considering a career in science.
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Feb 5, 2020
The Snowboarding CEO - Curt Bailey Bloodworks 101
Bloodworks Northwest's new President & CEO is Curt Bailey, a former Marine chopper pilot who takes a snowboarder's approach to leadership in the competitive Seattle health care industry. In 75 years as a Pacific Northwest institution, Bloodworks has always been led by a President & CEO with an M.D. behind his or her name. Curt Bailey comes with an MBA, a background that serves him well.
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Jan 13, 2020
Bloodworks 101 Introduction (with host John Yeager)
In this trailer, you'll meet John Yeager, your host for this podcast and find out why people at Bloodworks Northwest are so enthusiastic about the project. In this short piece you'll get a hint of the kind of stories the staff at Bloodworks Northwest will be sharing every month or so.
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Jan 6, 2020
Paying it Forward with Tom Newman
Tom Newman is a courier for Seattle-based Bloodworks Northwest. In this episode of the monthly podcast, Bloodworks 101, Newman explains why he'd do this job whether they paid him or not. Tom delivers blood products from Bloodworks Northwest's transit center in Georgetown (on Seattle's South side) to hospitals and blood drives from the Canadian border to Southern Oregon and just about everywhere in Western Washington. He drives hundreds of miles a day in all kinds of traffic but wait til you hear how Tom got started and why. Newman told host John Yeager all about it on this premiere episode of Bloodworks 101 entitled "Paying in Forward with Tom Newman."
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