It was a cold January day, filled with excitement as Gayla Schapker would soon become a grandmother for the first time. But when Gayla checked her phone, she saw the kind of text no mother ever wants to read, “Eli’s uterus ruptured, and they are doing emergency surgery.”
After more than 60 hours of labor, her daughter Eli Zoeller, underwent a cesarean section. Immediately after delivering her daughter, doctors discovered her uterus had ruptured and Eli needed emergency surgery. Eli lost nearly 40% of her blood volume due to the rupture but survived thanks to multiple transfusions. It inspired Gayla to do something she’d always sworn she’d never do – she rolled up her sleeve to donate blood.
The American Red Cross depends on volunteer donors to help ensure blood is available for new parents like Eli when it’s needed it most.
“My daughter received several units of blood that Riley [Hospital for Children] had available because someone took the time to donate their blood,” said Gayla. “By the grace of God, both my daughter and granddaughter survived the day.”
Eli later learned about the severity of her situation.
“Due to the rupture, I lost a lot of blood, which required two rapid blood transfusions during the surgery to restore,” said Eli. “Without transfusions, I am not sure I would be here still due to the amount of blood I lost.”
Right after delivering her daughter, Eli had just a moment to give her husband and new baby a quick kiss. Then, they were ushered out of the room, and she was put under anesthesia for emergency surgery.
“Right before I went under, I remember seeing a nurse coming around the curtain and moving faster than I have ever seen a nurse move to get an IV in,” said Eli. “I do remember that scaring me because seeing the nurse move so fast gave me the vague notion that this was really serious.”
Her story is just one example of how blood donors give families more time together. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
In the months since, Eli has had time to process what happened and the emotions she pushed aside in the moment so she could stay calm.
“It is crazy to think that women in the U.S. still die from childbirth, and I was almost one of them,” said Eli. “However, because God was looking out for me, I happened to be in the right hospital and was blessed to receive top-notch medical care as well as the gift of blood donations to save my life.”
Though she had always felt squeamish about needles, Gayla decided that if strangers could donate for her daughter, she could face her fears for someone else. A whole blood donation appointment takes about an hour from start to finish, and the actual donation itself only takes about 8 to 10 minutes. Its impact can last a lifetime, and Gayla remains grateful to those who saved her daughter.
“In thanks to God, the previous donors, and the Red Cross, I am a first-time blood donor,” said Gayla.
Eli is proud of her mother.
“To hear that my mom gave blood, something she has always said she would never do because it made her queasy, in my honor, really showcases the selfless person she is,” Eli said.
Speaking specifically to those who donated the blood products that saved her, Eli shared her absolute gratitude.
“I do not know who donated the blood I received,” said Eli, “but I am extremely grateful for them. Because of their selfless gift, I got to meet my beautiful baby girl.”
Eligible individuals are encouraged to schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1‑800‑RED CROSS (1‑800‑733‑2767).
Written by Communications Volunteer Michael Needham.