In Bridgewater, three moms have joined forces to organize a blood drive on January 27, coinciding with National Blood Donor Month and Maternal Health Awareness Day. Casey Cattell, Brianna Zarenkiewicz, and Minal Patel from the Bradley Gardens section of the township aim to collect 100 blood units. This event is special to Casey, who received 22 units of blood after her son Nathan's birth due to complications. Her experience with infertility, a life-threatening blood clot, and severe internal bleeding has driven her to advocate for maternal health.
Casey was convinced her symptoms were due to a C-section, but she was actually bleeding internally. She lost five liters of blood before emergency surgery saved her. This experience changed her life, and she's grateful for every moment with her son. She sees the blood drive as a way to help other families in crisis.
Brianna, an OBGyn Physician's Assistant, and Minal, a regular blood donor, joined Casey's cause. Brianna has seen the impact of safe blood products on obstetric outcomes. Minal donates blood every 56 days, emphasizing the significance of each donation in keeping families together.
