Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Did you know that dogs and cats can donate blood? As a Bloodworks executive, Jill Thomas never questioned that blood would be there for a loved one when they needed it. But when her beloved Boston Terrier, Leroy, had cancer surgery, she learned that, for our pets, this isn't always the case.  Dogs, cats, and even ferrets might need blood for all the same reasons as we do: surgery or trauma, anemia, auto-immune disorders, heat stroke, or other illnesses. Come with Bloodworks 101 as we step into a different sort of donor center.&nb ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Drs. Amily Guo and Pavel Davizon-Castillo at Bloodworks Research Institute are helping science to better understand the full function of platelets, making your donations go even further. Schedule a Donation ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Michelle Millman used to meet a daily deadline as an award-winning journalist at KIRO7 TV in Seattle. Today, Millman is the CEO of Seattle-based Cancer Pathways. She's also keenly aware of what it takes to be a cancer survivor. On today's edition of Bloodworks 101, Millman and a fellow cancer survivor share their stories with producer John Yeager.  And as John found out, that cancer survivor, Hanna Safley, says she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for hundreds of blood donors she'll never know. Schedule a Donation ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message It's not everyday we feature a Canadian veterinarian and a rare blood procedure called xenotransfusion.  But that's exactly what brought international media attention to the vet, Dr. Cameron Berg and the Toronto Wildlife Centre recently.  And that's how Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out about it.  In today's episode, John shares the story of Dr. Cameron Berg and the Lucky Fox ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Laura Kamada likes to hum and make up songs. Laura helps organize blood drives with Vitalant in San Luis Obispo, CA, and what started one morning as a little rhyming ditty soon turned into a children's book about blood donation: Everyone Needs Blood. Bloodworks 101 producer Helen Pitlick sat down with Laura to talk about her work, what it’s like to write a book, and why truly everyone needs blood. You can find Everyone Needs Blood on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Needs-Blood-Laura-Kamada/dp/B0CSGR7NYP ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message First and foremost, Comfort Zone, a peer-run drop-in center in Portland, is a safe space. And Vivilynn Amity is one of the people who make it special. Vivilynn is a blood donor, blood drive coordinator, and self-described "emo vampire kid."  As Bloodworks 101 producer Helen Pitlick learned, it's not just a phase ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message May 23rd, 2024 is National Stop The Bleed Day. It's a day set aside to help bystanders with no medical training actually help save a life when an emergency strikes and everything is a matter of life and death. As Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, while Stop The Bleed seeks to save lives, it also gives those who take the course, the empowerment it takes to run towards an emergency when everyone else is running away.  ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Former Washington Governor Gary Locke has a long resume and a distinguished career in public service but did you know he was also an advocate for blood donation? Recently, Locke sat down with contributor Juan Cotto for this special edition of Bloodworks 101.   ..read more

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message When Kristin Kleinhofer's acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) returned, she picked a mantra, a quote by Christopher Reeve: "Once you choose hope, anything's possible." It's this hope, along with the decision made by two families to donate their babies' cord blood and the generosity of more than 90 blood donors, that powers Kristin today.  ..read more

By day, Olympia's Lynette Manning sets up blood drives for Bloodworks Northwest. By night, she's a promising standup comedian with a loyal following. And as Lynette tells Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager in this special BONUS edition, her work with Bloodworks has helped her on stage but as John found out, there's another reason why she's inspired ..read more