FOX 2, Art Van team up for blood drive

When you donate blood, do you wonder who's benefiting? One Detroit woman wants you to think of her the next time you're giving blood or say you're too busy to give blood. She says if it weren't for generous donors, she'd be dead.

Taneisha Campbell got a life-saving kidney transplant from her cousin who gave up one for her. But to get there, it took a lot of different donors - blood donors.

"So since I needed a blood transfusion, in real life I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the blood transfusion," she said.

She was suffering from kidney failure in her 20's. Her body couldn't filter blood and she needed several transfusions to survive.

"So the blood transfusion I needed was when I had found out that my kidneys had failed. At that point my blood count was extremely low, and it was an emergency blood transfusion. I had the blood transfusion before I was able to start dialysis," she said.

Today, she's living life to the fullest with the donated kidney keeping her healthy. She wants people to know that it's the blood donations from strangers that made a huge impact.

"So I think the problem is that people don't necessarily know the need of blood transfusions, and don't know how it affects others. You don't really know who needs what when you are standing next to a person. So I don't think they understand that someone in your family might actually need that blood transfusion, and people who have had blood transfusions don't normally talk about it, so how would they know," Taneisha said.

She's now the coordinator with Gift of Life MOTTEP, the Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Educational Program. Her passion is helping others get life-changing donations like she did.

"I get to live because somebody decided to donate blood," she said.

How can you help? On Friday, FOX 2 is teaming up with the American Red Cross and Art Van Furniture for a blood drive from 8:00 a.m. until 1:45 at the Art Van in Warren on 14 Mile.

Donors must be at least 17 years old (or 16 years old with parental consent), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and present a valid picture ID. Those interested in donating can sign up in advance and schedule an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: artvan or call (800) 733-2767 (800-RED-CROSS). For additional information, visit artvan.com.