The County Times Newspaper

By Carrie Munn

St. Mary’s College of Maryland alum and Southern Maryland local legend Brian Boyle visited English students at St. Mary’s Ryken last Friday to talk about his inspirational, nonfiction book, “Iron Heart.” 

The work was assigned reading for several Ryken juniors and Boyle addressed their inquiries about his true-life account of overcoming injuries sustained in a 2004 severe automobile accident and going on to complete the grueling Ironman competition. 

Athlete and author Brian Boyle answers a variety of student questions during his visit to St. Mary’s Ryken.

At 18, Boyle, of Welcome, in Charles County, was an honor student and all-star athlete at McDonough High School when his life was placed in peril after his Camaro was struck by a dump truck. In 2007, Boyle, who technically died multiple times during surgeries and was told he may never walk again, made headlines when he crossed the finish line after the intense 2.4-swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile full marathon in Kona, Hawaii. 

From coma to Kona, “Iron Heart” is his personal and inspirational tale and one that Ryken English teacher Misty Frantz said her students connect with. 

“Every day I inspire my students to accomplish their goals and make the world a better place,” Frantz said, adding the choices she makes in literature have to support the ‘quitting is not a option’ philosophy she lives and teaches by. “Brian’s story fits right in with that philosophy,” she told The County Times. 

She explained “Iron Heart” is an inspirational yet relatable tale for her students and that the experience of meeting Boyle makes the book come to life for them. 

Students asked Boyle questions ranging from the serious; “Did you ever want to just give up?” and “Did you ever question your faith?” to the superficial; “Do you have a girlfriend?” and “How much can you bench?” 

Boyle answered them all candidly and with a sense of humor. As one session wrapped up, he told the high schoolers, “I’m nothing different, I just have a crazy story to share.” 

Boyle said the book was borne from his personal journaling during the lengthy recovery process, explaining it took time to determine which memories were a reality and which were not. Boyle said he was determined to get out of the hospital bed he’d spent weeks in, not just for his sake, but for his parents’. “I just had to pull through for them,” he said. 

He said as crazy as it sounds, it took something as intense as finishing the Ironman for him to feel his recovery was complete. “Every week, every day was and is a gift,” Boyle said, adding that in the years since his miraculous recovery he has sought out the medical workers who saved his life and thanked them, has become an American Red Cross advocate and public speaker, as well as pushing the athletic envelope for himself. He continues to train extensively and competes in many endurance events with sponsorships. 

Boyle said he is working on getting back to Kona, to disprove the naysayers who claimed he only got the chance to compete because of the media attention and his amazing story. He said in the future two goals are to qualify straight-up for the Ironman and The Boston Marathon. 

The athlete shared that his outlook on life is forever changed, saying he wakes up happy to be able to move his toes each morning and has an enhanced level of determination and appreciation in life. 

When a student asked the author, “Would you go back and change it if you could?”, Boyle responded that as tough as it was, he wouldn’t take it back for the platform his experience has given him to help others. 

He said his thoughts went from ‘Why did He let this happen to me?’ to ‘Why has He saved me?’ From there, his spirit of determination carried him through a remarkable recovery and he now serves as inspiration for other athletes and trauma patients facing a seemingly insurmountable return to normalcy. 

As for his book, “Iron Heart” is written in a simplistic, first-hand narrative and Boyle said his hope in publishing the work is that it ends up in the hands of someone in a similar situation and gives them the hope to push through it. 

“My students continually tell me that this is the one book they enjoyed reading,” Frantz said, adding that Brian is real and by him taking the time to come meet with the students, “…my students see you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.” 

Many excited students requested photos with the athlete and author following their open dialogue about the reading. 

Boyle’s book is available through Amazon.com and all major retailers. More information can be found by visiting http://www.iron-heart.org/.

Baltimore, MD, January 9, 2012 –

“We are nearing a potential crisis for patients at the more than 50 hospitals we serve, including several level one trauma centers” stated Gary J. Ouellette, CEO. “Low donor turnout around the holidays, as well as winter breaks at local high schools and colleges has lead to this drop in blood collections. As a direct result, blood inventories have continued to drop as patients’ needs increase. Without your help, patients are at risk for not receiving the transfusions they need.” 

Like the Emergency Room of a hospital, the American Red Cross must be prepared to respond to patient emergencies with blood products 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Through the everyday support and generosity of blood and platelet donors, the Red Cross can be prepared to do this day-in and day-out, no matter when or where these blood products are needed. 

Each day, approximately 44,000 units of blood are needed for patients in the United States. In fact, approximately every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood. All eligible donors are encouraged to become an Everyday supporter of the Red Cross and their communities by giving blood or platelets this winter. 

How to Donate Blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. Platelet donors can call 1-800-272-2123. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. 

The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.™

Success Magazine, January 2012

IRON HEART, January 2012

A car wreck nearly ended his life, but Brian Boyle wasn’t going to let that stop him from achieving his goals.

By James  Mayfield 

Depending on the day of the week, Brian Boyle’s schedule goes something like this: Wake up at 6 a.m., have a quick breakfast, hit the pool for a two-hour swim followed by a 20-mile run and maybe a four-hour bike ride. 

Such is the life of a person preparing for one of the most challenging sporting events on the planet—the Ironman triathlon. 

With a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile full marathon, the Ironman competition represents the survival of the fittest. The training regimen alone is something the 25-year-old from Welcome, Md., is lucky to be able to maintain—considering that just a few years ago, doctors told him he might never walk again. And during surgeries, he technically died eight times. 

In 2004, Boyle was 18 and at the top of his game, graduating from high school and looking forward to college. A competitive swimmer, his best events were the sprint-based 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly. On July 6, as Boyle headed home from swim practice, a dump truck broadsided his Chevy Camaro as he crossed an intersection. 

Pulled from the gnarled wreckage, Boyle had suffered extensive trauma, with lacerated liver, collapsed lungs, nonfunctioning kidneys and heart pushed to one side, among other injuries. “I had 60 percent blood loss and pretty much every major organ was damaged,” he says. At Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Md., doctors placed Boyle in a chemically induced coma and performed a total of 14 operations, requiring 36 blood transfusions. During all this, his heart stopped eight times. 

After months in the hospital, Boyle finally regained consciousness, but his road to recovery was just beginning. Because his pelvis had been crushed, doctors were doubtful he would ever walk again. 

One thing that kept him motivated was his family. “My parents and I have always been best friends and that was the great thing about having that support system in the hospital. I just kept thinking, this may be bad now, but I’m thinking about my parents, and it’s a thousand times worse for them. So what I have to do is push aside all this negativity and put on a smile for my parents, because they are going through enough already.” 

The accident not only put a hold on his athletic aspirations, but also his goals overall, and Boyle was very serious about his goals. “When I graduated from high school, the three short-term, realistic goals I had were to go to college, be on the swim team and one day attempt an Ironman,” he says. “But the accident put everything on standby. I really didn’t know if it was ever going to be possible to achieve those dreams.” 

Despite everything, Boyle was not despondent. The very process of having set those goals, maintaining the discipline to work toward incremental benchmarks, and knowing the immense rewards of attaining them gave Boyle an advantage during his recovery. He knew he had to set new goals and a new plan to attack them—as well as a new timetable that would test him in a new way. “I had to just push forward every day and take it one step at a time, very slowly.” 

After two months in the intensive care unit and a week in a rehab center, Boyle went home and continued outpatient therapy. Meantime, his support system grew stronger. “Team Boyle,” comprising Brian and his mom and dad, had matching shirts made and developed a website where friends and well-wishers could cheer him on toward a full recovery and his goal of competing in an Ironman World Championship. 

On Oct. 13, 2007, three years after he was told he wouldn’t walk, Boyle completed the Ironman in Hawaii—in 14 hours, 42 minutes and 25 seconds. “It was the greatest day of my life; it was awesome,” he says. “That was the step back into life, the breath of life all over again. When I crossed the finish line in Hawaii, I was showing everyone, including myself, that I wasn’t sick anymore. I wasn’t Brian the boy in the wheelchair, I was Brian the Ironman.” 

Boyle recounts his remarkable journey in his 2009 memoir Iron Heart: The True Story of How I Came Back from the Dead. It was a book that began when he was released from the hospital, although he didn’t know it at the time. “When I left the hospital, my nurses told me I was going to go through physical therapy, but I also needed to focus on the emotional therapy, too,” he says. “And they told me to keep a journal of the progress so I could visually see the improvement on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. That’s really pretty much how the book was started.” And the title Iron Heart? “The title came from the fact that the main concern in the hospital was my heart. It sustained the most damage of all the organs, and the most operations were done on my heart, from what I was told.” 

Today, Brian Boyle’s Iron Heart story continues to inspire others and exemplify the importance of setting goals. He went to school for graphic design and upon graduating cum laude from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2010, ran his first 50-mile ultramarathon, completed his third Ironman in 10:14, and also made his first blood donation to the hospital that brought him back to life. 

In 2011, Boyle launched the Red Cross Iron Heart Campaign to help raise blood donation awareness on a national level for the organization he credits with helping save his life—the American Red Cross. “When I was going through physical therapy in Baltimore, I remember being in this wheelchair and looking around at the other patients and thinking to myself, ‘I may actually leave here one day and make a full recovery,’ ” he recalls. “I felt lucky at that time because a lot of the patients there may never walk again, they may never leave that unit. I promised myself right then and there that if I ever left that rehab center, I would do everything I possibly could to take my experiences and my background and use them in a positive way to help in as many forms as possible. And what better way to start than with the foundation of my recovery, the Red Cross?” 

As for Boyle’s next goal? Getting back to the World Championship Ironman in Hawaii, of course. “It was great that I finished the one in 2007, but now I have to try and earn my way back by qualifying like everybody else. When I crossed the finish line in Kona I made a promise to myself that one day I would get back there on my own… and not on my story,” he says, referring to exceptions to the rigorous qualifying requirements made for him because of his extraordinary circumstances. “The endurance races like the Ironman triathlons and marathons have personally become much more than challenging athletic events, they have become a lifestyle. What started out as a way to complete my recovery has now become a way to show my appreciation to the people who have been a part of my journey back to life. 

“Crossing the finish line at any event is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years—my parents, family, friends, coach, doctors, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, rescue workers, blood donors, and the list goes on and on. Just to even make it to the starting line at these races is a gift, but to finish is so meaningful. When my heart is beating fast and the adrenaline and blood are pumping rapidly out on the course, this once was a sign that I was dying, but now they are a sign that I’m living.”

To see full article click here,

Brian’s Red Cross National PSA can be viewed here.

Presidential Award for Excellence in Biomedical Services 

American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington D.C.

Brian Boyle – Volunteer Spokesperson 

Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region Baltimore, Maryland 

Brian Boyle lost 60 percent of his blood on the scene when a truck plowed into the side of his car.  Now, in addition to competing in triathlons and marathons, Brian shares his personal story to recruit blood donors and encourage financial donations. 

Brian collaborated with Sky Horse Publishing and the American Red Cross to create a limited edition of his autobiography “Iron Heart”, including a special message to blood donors.  He personally hosted a series of 18 blood drives throughout the greater Washington D.C. area, with more than 1,100 participants and provide them with a signed copy of his book.  He also made his very first blood donation at the hospital that brought him back to life, Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, MD. 

As a world-class Ironman triathlete, Brian wears the Red Cross logo on his gear.  His participation in events often attracts significant news and media coverage where Brian also shows his support of the Red Cross. 

Brian collaborated with the rock band 311, Sony Music Entertainment, and audio and video producers to encourage others to donate blood through internet, radio and television public service announcements.  The PSAs were created at no cost have reached audiences throughout the country.  The PSAs were designed to specifically appear to younger and diverse audiences. 

As a public speaker in collaboration with the Maryland Healthcare Education Institute, Brian regularly visits audiences at medical conferences, schools and other events and always includes his advocacy of the Red Cross when sharing his message to potential supporters.

Brian’s journey of courage and determination has touched the hearts of many, and his story and the message it carries have been celebrated around the world.  We thank Brian for including the American Red Cross in that message.

Presidential Award for Excellence

 

A short video of Brian’s story and his volunteer work with the American Red Cross.

Brian and Troy before the Red Cross Red Run 5K in Frederick, MD

FIRST FOR SOME AT THE RED CROSS 5K IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND

American Red Cross, 11/8/11

This past weekend, two local blood recipients competed together, representing the Red Cross GC&P Region in the Red Run 5K in Frederick, MD, to help encourage people to support the Red Cross and donate blood.

Two young men, with different backgrounds and different challenges in life. Both were told at one point in their lives that they would never walk or talk. Both have spent months in various hospitals, rehab centers and have underwent physical, occupational and speech therapies. Blood donations helped to save one’s life, and give the other a chance to have one.

Brian Boyle is quickly becoming well known across the country for his inspirational comeback story against all odds, after he recovered from a violent car crash that almost took his life. This 25-year old lost 60% of his blood at the scene of his accident and received 36 Red Cross blood transfusions. He triumphed to not only fully recover but also conquer his biggest goal in life – the ‘Kona’ Ironman Triathlon World Championship. He has since devoted his life to raising awareness for blood donations and encouraging others to donate.

Troy Baisey is a 17-year old high school student with Cerebral Palsy and many disabilities. As a severely premature infant, he received Red Cross blood and platelet transfusions in his first month of life during many heart and other surgeries. He spent most of his younger years in hospitals, with leg braces and wheelchairs but now competes in the Special Olympics. He volunteers to help with his school and church blood drives and tells everyone he meets that they should donate blood to help other people. Until today, he had never run, jogged or walked a distance further than 40 meters. Inspired by his favorite hero and fellow blood recipient, Brian Boyle, he challenged himself to run a 5K race.

Brian and Troy running to the finish line.

You may run for a medal or to place, but for Troy Baisey the last steps through the 5K finish line with Brian meant so much more.

Everyone has their ‘Kona’.

Please enjoy this short WHAG news segment of Brian Boyle and Troy Baisey.

Dr. Charles Drew

When the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, the U.S. military asked the American Red Cross to create and operate a national blood program to support the troops. Dr. Charles Drew, a hematologist, surgeon, educator and scientist, turned his skills to the development of dried plasma. He supervised the pilot Red Cross blood banking program which was established in 1941. His groundbreaking research made it possible to store plasma for later use, revolutionizing modern medicine. Americans donated millions of pints of blood for the war effort and his innovation enabled those donations to save the lives of countless casualties of war

Mankind suffered a great loss in 1950 when, at the age of 45, Dr. Drew was killed in an automobile accident while driving to a scientific conference. His pioneering medical work has endured. How many lives have been saved because of his genius at turning basic biological research into practical production methods is impossible to determine.

Over the years, Drew has been considered one of the most honored and respected figures in the medical field and his development of the blood plasma bank has given a second chance of life to millions.

The Charles R. Drew Award is designed to preserve the memory of Dr. Drew’s contributions to the American Red Cross Blood Services. The award is presented to a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to strengthening and improving blood services.

The 2011 Charles R. Drew Award recipient is Red Cross volunteer Brian Boyle.

Brian Boyle is a Red Cross blood recipient, donor and volunteer. He is currently 25 years old and lives in Southern Maryland. Since 2007, Brian Boyle has devoted his life’s activities to supporting the American Red Cross and its mission to help others. Brian’s support encourages thousands of Red Cross blood donations locally and nationally. Brian supports the Red Cross by speaking publicly, interviewing with news media, competing in athletic competitions, in a limited-edition of his autobiography, Iron Heart, and as a blood donor and advocate of blood donation.

In 2004, 18-year-old Brian Boyle’s future changed in an instant when a dump truck plowed into his vehicle. He was airlifted to a shock-trauma hospital. Brian had lost sixty percent of his blood, his heart had moved across his chest, and his organs and pelvis were pulverized. He received 36 Red Cross blood transfusions and plamsa treatments and underwent 14 operations. Because of the severe pain and injuries, Brian was placed in a medically-induced coma.

Brian defied all laws of medicine and logic and he clawed his way back to the living. First blinking his eyelids, then squeezing a hand, then smiling, he emerged from his locked-in state and was determined to recover. During the recovery, while bound to a wheelchair he made a commitment to himself: if he could ever walk and talk again, he would share his story in a positive way to help others. Eventually, Brian learned of the 36 units of donated Red Cross blood that he received and he was intrigued that they came from volunteer donors who gave part of themselves to help save his life.

After months of physical therapy and rehabilitation, Brian learned how to walk again and he learned how to run, and run very well. Against all predictions, Brian Boyle crossed the finish line at the 2007 Hawaii Ironman, the most grueling athletic competition in the world, just three years after leaving the Intensive Care Unit at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, MD.  That same year, Brian started volunteering as a public speaker in support of the Red Cross. He continues to share his personal message about how blood donors were a vital factor in his recovery and he asks others to donate blood with their local Red Cross.

In 2009, he published his first book, Iron Heart, a firsthand account of his journey back to life. Following its release, Brian worked with his publisher to then create a limited-edition including a Red Cross cover and Brian’s personal message to blood donors. Brian then hosted and attended a series of Iron Heart blood drives with more than 1,000 participants. Brian attended these blood drives to meet and thank each participant and provided them with a limited-edition and signed copy of his book, Iron Heart. He also made his very first blood donation at the hospital that brought him back to life.

His story of courage and determination continues to be shared around the world and Brian continues to compete. Brian has recently competed in more than 20 running, marathon, Ironman and triathlon events. During every race, Brian proudly wore the American Red Cross logo as a tribute to the blood donors that helped to save his life.

Brian’s message extends to audiences of all ages, races, religions and his story inspires people from all walks of life. His volunteer commitment to help others by sharing his story in a variety of ways is unsurpassed and Brian has undoubtedly touched the lives of many with his inspiring message.

Brian not only represents the Red Cross, Brian is the Red Cross.

Race morning

The 2011 Ironman World Championship 70.3 begins with a 1.2-mile swim in Lake Las Vegas at Lake Las Vegas Resort. Next, athletes will embark on a challenging 56-mile bike through Lake Mead National Recreation Area that includes several steep climbs that total over 5,200 feet. Participants will finish with a 13.1-mile run through Henderson’s scenic residential areas with views of the Las Vegas Strip.

Out of the 60,000 athletes that competed this year in this race circuit, more than 1,800 domestic and international competitors (from over 50 countries) earned their right to compete in the Ironman World Championship 70.3 by qualifying at an Ironman 70.3 event.

This was my third world championship event (2007 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii; 2008 Foster Grant Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida), but what made this race so meaningful is the fact that I qualified in my age group to compete.

After racing in the sport for four years, I was both excited and shocked that I would actually qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in my first race of the season and also my first time competing in the 25-29 age group at the Eagleman 70.3 in Cambridge, Maryland.

Swim start

After Eagleman, and especially in the days leading up to the race, I kept hearing in various conversations about how difficult the course would be, and as soon as I arrived in Henderson their statements were verified. The only thing that I had on my mind was to race strong and safe. From start to finish, the race turned out to be an amazing experience all the way around.

What I liked about the swim course is that we started right below a bridge where all the spectators could watch us from above, which definitely added some extra encouragement to see my parents and friends before the cannon went off for the race start.

My swim wave was the very last to go in, about an hour-and-a-half behind the first wave of professionals. After the initial start that is always aggressive for the first 100-200 yards, I was able to get into a nice rhythm and find a steady groove. I found the water to be pretty calm and smooth, which made it easy to sight where to go. With every arm stroke and breath that I took, I kept reflecting on the progress that had taken place in my triathlon career that helped me get to the world championship, and I also thought about all the incredible support that I’ve received ever since my recovery from 2004. These positive vibes of energy kept flowing and no matter what was going to happen, I was there competing with the best triathletes in the world and it was going to be a great day.

Leaving the transition area and starting out on the bike course

As soon as I exited the water, I had my mind set on all the upcoming factors of what to do in order to make a successful transition. I found my bike, ran it out of T1, and it was time to have some fun. Within the first mile of the bike portion of the race, the hills had already started to creep up, and then it was almost like we were on this rollercoaster of a course that just kept going up and down. Even though the hills were tough, my mind kept focusing in on the scenery. I could see triathletes on the road that were several miles away and it was just a nonstop adventure because you didn’t know what would be around the next bend. One minute you could be descending down a hill close to 50 miles an hour and the next minute you would barely be pedaling 10 up a hill. I raced in Clearwater in 2008, and the course was very flat and I remember seeing a lot of drafting on the course, so this new race location really changed up the pattern a lot. Las Vegas is certainly a world championship bike course and I will proudly shake the hand of any person who made a personal best on the bike that day.

Mile 12 on the run

After making it to T2, I was really looking forward to getting off the bike and testing out the running legs. I really worked on improving the bike to run transition over the summer months, and I could tell within the first mile that all the training really made a big difference. My first mile split is usually a way that I gauge how the rhythm and form feels, and I was astonished to see that I was almost able to break a 7 minute mile after such a wild bike course. But, I soon found out that the run course would be very similar to the way the bike was, consisting of a mile up and a mile back down, with four laps of road that was far from flat. It was a such a blast to be out there competing in the inaugural event and to race strong, with my parents and friends cheering me across the finish line.

With all the sincerity in the world, thank you to everyone who has supported me in my triathlon and running career since it began in 2007. We have come a very long way since then and I’m so grateful for all of your support – Teamwork always.

Finish line

The local Red Cross has an urgent and very critical need for eligible platelet donors. Eligible platelet donors are asked to call 1-800-272-2123 and immediately schedule a donation as soon as possible. Platelets are commonly used for patients undergoing cancer treatment, trauma victims and many other hospital patients. Since platelets have a shelf-life of just five days, it is imperative that there are enough platelets on hand to meet the needs of local hospital patients in need.

Nationwide, around 44,000 blood donations are needed each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and children with blood disorders. Every 2 seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion. These patients and others rely on blood products during their treatment.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, please call 1-800-RED CROSS. Eligible platelet donors should call 1-800-272-2123. For more information visit redcrossblood.org

#16 Greg Biffle's car has a new paint job displaying 500,000 cascading red blood cells, each one representing a blood donor needed during the month of August.

NASCAR driver and American Red Cross blood donor Greg Biffle made us all proud driving the No. 16 American Red Cross car at the Indianapolis Brickyard 400.  The race was a huge success as it helped to bring awareness to the critical need for blood–in particular, Type O blood.

The race at Indy is behind us, but the race to save lives is ongoing. Your support and generosity toward the Red Cross is much needed and very much appreciated. 

Schedule your blood donation today.

Sincerely,

Brian Boyle
American Red Cross Blood Recipient, Donor and Volunteer

"By giving just a little bit of their time, blood donors helped give me the chance at a lifetime.” - Brian Boyle

ALL BLOOD TYPES NEEDED

National Headquarters
2025 E Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
www.redcross.org

WASHINGTON D.C. — The American Red Cross issued an appeal for blood donors to roll up a sleeve and address a critical shortage across the nation.

Many donors are busy or traveling, school is out of session and donations have dropped dramatically. In May and June, while demand for blood products remained steady, donations were at the lowest level the Red Cross has seen during this timeframe in over a dozen years. Because of that, the Red Cross needs blood donors now more than ever. All types are needed, but especially O negative, which can be used to treat any patient.

The Red Cross has responded to more than 40 major disasters across more than 30 states over the past three months.

“This has been an especially busy year for the Red Cross, as we’ve given help and hope to people affected by deadly tornadoes, floods, wildfires and other storms,” said Shaun Gilmore, President, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “But there’s another, more personal, kind of disaster that can happen to any of us at any time if we need blood and it’s not available.”

The Red Cross is reaching out to eligible blood donors, sponsors and community leaders to ask them to recruit people to help meet the needs of patients in communities across theUnited States.

“As a meteorologist, I know that there is a chance of tornado, flood, fire, earthquake or hurricane somewhere in our country almost every day,” said Jim Cantore, Meteorologist and member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. ”Any one of these natural disasters can bring pain and heartbreak to those affected. Similarly, a critical blood shortage like the one we’re experiencing right now could have the same effect on someone in need.”

Every two seconds, someone in the United Statesneeds a blood transfusion — someone like Brian Boyle, a 25-year-old whose life changed instantly when a dump truck plowed into his vehicle on his way home from swim practice in 2004.  Brian lost 60% of his blood, his heart had moved across his chest and his organs and pelvis were pulverized.  If Brian survived, doctors predicted that he might not be able to walk again and certainly would not swim.  Against all predictions, Brian now competes in marathons and triathlons.

“When I needed it, the American Red Cross was there with 36 blood transfusions and 13 plasma treatments that saved my life in a situation where time was of the essence,” said Boyle. “Amazing medical care and volunteer blood donors helped make my recovery possible. By giving just a little bit of their time, blood donors helped give me the chance at a lifetime.”

Brian’s story emphasizes just how important each and every blood donation can be. In fact, the Red Cross provides lifesaving blood to nearly 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.  Accident victims, as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to give blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

Eligible blood donors are asked to please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to find a blood drive and to make an appointment.  To lean more about Brian Boyle’s story, please visit redcrossblood.org/ironheart