A Kingoodie woman who needed 13 units of blood after she suffered a life-threatening condition is recruiting people for a blood drive.
Paula Laurence was 5 months pregnant in April 2003 when she went to bed complaining of feeling unwell. The next thing she knew she was in the intensive care unit at Ninewells, having suffered an amniotic fluid embolism.
“I had an abruption that opened up my blood vessel,” Paula said.
“They had to induce my labour while I was in a coma. I was in a coma on life support for two days.
“I was extremely lucky to survive this as 95% of people who experience this die within the first hour.”
Sadly Paula’s baby, who she named Ben, was not so lucky. He was stillborn and last year, on the 10th anniversary, April 30, Paula decided to start Ben’s Day.
“I said last year I wanted to get 13 people to give back the blood I was given,” Paula said.
“I opened a Facebook page and it got shared with over 1,000 people. I had people saying: ‘You don’t know me but I want to give’.”
People from as far away as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester registered to donate blood for Ben’s Day. Paula also managed to raise £1,300 for the intensive care unit and a further £550 for the blood bank.
She said: “My friend Jacqui Robertson does fundraising at Dundee Football Club. We got taken out at half-time, got a signed ball and shirt. I’ve also done candle parties and I’m doing a knit-a-thon.”
Paula has also been helped by print firm Mail Boxes Etc, which printed leaflets featuring Ben’s hand and footprints to help her raise awareness of Ben’s Day.
She is now running a new Ben’s Day blood drive on Wednesday, 11 years on from the embolism.
“I’ve got 40 or 50 people so far and I’ve been taking bookings for Wednesday and Tuesday May 6. We had over 100 people donating blood last year and I would love to beat it this year.”
Anyone who wants to donate should contact Ninewells blood bank on 6451366, ask for Sue and quote Ben’s Day. Paula also thanked Gwen Fenton at the blood bank, who helped her coordinate last year’s drive.