•FEEL GOOD. GIVE BLOOD. SPRING ‘13

SPRING ‘13

Save a life & a tree! To receive Pulse via email, go to the website listed below for your area. Click the newsletter sign-up button on the home page.

FEEL ALIVE. GIVE BLOOD.

www.txbi.org www.arkbi.orgwww.obi.org

www.obi.org

FEEL ALIVE.GIVE BLOOD.

Donors can choose to forgo the donor appreciation

item, and funds designated for this item will then be

redirected to Global Blood Fund!

Each donor receives FREE: • An Insulated Lunch Tote (while supplies last) • Health Screenings • Donor Rewards PointsPhoto ID Required.

It’s Spring - time to celebrate life in nature and all around us. Give now through May 22, and receive an insulated lunch tote in appreciation, OR choose to forgo the tote to support the Global Blood Fund, a charity making safe blood donation possible in underdeveloped countries.

APRIL12-13 - OKC Mathis Brothers Furniture, 3434 W. Reno; 2 - 7 p.m. promoted by KOCO-TV. In addition to othergiveaways, donors will have a chance to win a $1,000 gift certificate from Mathis Brothers Furniture.

MAY22-26 - Donate at one of these blood drives hosted by Oklahoma casinos, and receive a voucher for $10 of casino play, a T-shirt and two free admissions to the OKC Zoo.

Riverwind Casino: May 22, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.SaltCreek Casino: May 23, 1 - 5 p.m.Lucky Star Casino, Concho: May 23, 1 - 6 p.m.Sugar Creek Casino: May 23, 1 - 6 p.m.Thunderbird Casino, May 23, 1 - 6 p.m.FireLake Bowling Center: May 24, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.Remington Park Racetrack & Casino: May 24, noon - 5 p.m.FireLake Grand Casino: May 24, 1 - 6 p.m.Lucky Star Casino: May 24, 1 - 6 p.m.Kickapoo Casino, Harrah: May 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.Newcastle Gaming Center: May 25, noon - 5 p.m.

Pre-Memorial Day Drives, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., sponsored by

23-24 - Oklahoma donor centers; Free barbeque pork sandwich, T-shirt and two free admissions to the OKC or Tulsa Zoo for each donor, plus a chance to win a catered barbeque pork picnic for 40.

31 - M*A*S*H* Bash - Fort Smith donor center. Donors will enjoy free hot dogs and receive a commemorative M*A*S*H* Bash T-shirt.

Special thanks to partners like Chesapeake Energy Corporation that have dedicated drives exclusively to support Global Blood Fund. Recently, 200 Chesapeake

employees donated blood to benefit patients in area hospitals. At the same time, they made a difference internationally.

Chesapeake’s blood drive coordinators elected to donate the funds that would have been spent on ball hats for donors. These funds were contributed to the Global Blood Fund, a nonprofit assisting blood centers in underdeveloped countries. Even without the ball hats as motivation, Chesapeake employees rolled up their sleeves and gave generously. Chesapeake is OBI’s largest corporate blood drive partner, and the organization hopes this creative approach will serve as a model for many other groups.

www.obi.org

FEEL ALIVE.GIVE BLOOD.

Donors can choose to forgo the donor appreciation

item, and funds designated for this item will then be

redirected to Global Blood Fund!

Each donor receives FREE: • An Insulated Lunch Tote (while supplies last) • Health Screenings • Donor Rewards PointsPhoto ID Required.

FEEL GOOD. GIVE BLOOD. SPRING ‘12

SPRING ‘12

Texas Blood Institute, (TBI) an affiliate of OBI, has been the sole provider of all blood and blood products to north Texas since June 2004. A nonprofit, regional blood center, it serves all eight hospitals in Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Hardeman, Wichita and Wilbarger counties. Its flagship donor center is conveniently located at 3709 Gregory Street in Wichita Falls.

Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) is the only nonprofit blood center governed by Oklahomans for Oklahomans. OBI has been providing blood products for Oklahoma since 1977. Today, OBI provides every drop of blood needed by patients in 139 medical facilities across Oklahoma. The donor centers are located across the state in Ada, Ardmore, Enid, Lawton, Oklahoma City, Ponca City and Tulsa. Additional locations in the Oklahoma City area include Edmond, Midwest City and Norman.

FEEL RENEWED. GIVE BLOOD.

Texas donor centerCoupon for Golden Chick combo meal; ice cream from Oak Farms Dairy & Southwestern Ice Cream; sponsored by Wichita Falls’ BOB FM

APRIL 13-14 - OKC Mathis Brothers Furniture, 3434 W. Reno; 2-7 p.m. promoted by KOCO-TV. In addition to other giveaways, donors will have a chance to win a $1,000 gift certificate from Mathis Brothers Furniture. MAY 24 - 25 - Pre-Memorial Day Drives, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. sponsored by Oklahoma Pork Council Oklahoma donor centers Free barbeque pork sandwiches and fixin’s plus a chance to win a catered barbeque pork picnic for 40. These radio stations across Oklahoma will join in:

• Ada’s BOSS • Ardmore’s KTRX • Enid’s KOFM • Lawton’s Magic 95

When you give now through May, you’ll receive a good-to-go travel tumbler in appreciation, OR you can choose to forgo the tumbler, and redirect its cost to support the American Heart Association through April, and local children’s hospitals in May.

As you enjoy the rebirth of nature this Spring, do your part to renew lives by giving blood.

• Oklahoma City’s KOMA, KMGL, KRXO, KOKC• Ponca City’s Team Radio• Tulsa’s KVOO

Open Arms Heal HeartsNow through April, you can support the American Heart Association (AHA) by forgoing the tumbler or T-shirt offered in appreciation for giving blood. In turn, our organization will make a monetary contribution of similar value to support the American Heart Association.

Combine your gift of life-saving blood with a contribution to AHA by simply declining your appreciation item. Support education, research and treatments for heart disease.

Donors with Arkansas Blood Institute (ABI) exclusively meet the blood needs of patients in 17 hospitals in western Arkansas. This includes Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Garland, Hot Spring, Johnson, Logan, Montgomery, Pike, Polk, Scott, Sebastian and Yell counties, as well as Adair, Sequoyah, Haskell, Latimer and Le Flore in eastern Oklahoma. Donor centers are located in Fort Smith and Hot Springs. ABI is affiliated with OBI.

Save a life & a tree! To receive Pulse via email, go to the website listed below for your area. Click the newsletter sign-up button on the home page.

www.obi.org

www.txbi.org

www.arkbi.org

KOCO-TV Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell

PULSE — PAGE 2 — SPRING ‘13 FEEL GOOD. GIVE BLOOD.

The Reality of GivingJim Orlander, Arkansas Blood Institute (ABI) donor, knows that giving blood is a good feeling. And he has been doing his part to save lives for many years. He recently received his 25 gallon pin in Fort Smith.

Though Jim feels a sense of accomplishment from his donations, he says his greatest moment was when a patient’s son thanked him for donating platelets. The son shared that his dad was dying of cancer, and the platelets were helping keep his dad alive so the family could have a little more time with him and say good-bye. This emotional experience is a constant reminder for Jim of the reality of how his commitment to donate is changing the lives of others.

OSU President Burns Hargis lifts high the Bedlam Blood Battle trophy during the presentation at a football game.

A Bedlam Battle Everyone WinsEach semester, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University leverage the enthusiasm of Bedlam to encourage college students and employees to donate blood in the Bedlam Blood Battle. And, thanks to dedicated organizations at each campus, these blood drives continue to grow.

Sigma Chi is a great example of OU student groups who believe in blood donation. Its members proudly don their “I Bleed Crimson” T-shirts to encourage others on campus to give.

In Stillwater, the OSU Student Alumni Board has stepped up as lead sponsor and played an integral part in the Bedlam blood drives’ success. The group’s efforts have resulted in more than 3,370 donations in the past two years, making a life-saving difference for more than 10,000 Oklahomans.

In November, OSU was crowned the winning school in the Fall 2012 Bedlam Blood Battle. Some 1,448 Cowboys volunteered to give blood. The University of Oklahoma rallied 1,310 on its Norman campus giving blood.

“The Bedlam Blood Battle is a great opportunity for blood donors to show their school spirit,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO. “It is also a way to show the best in community spirit by saving lives. And that is the real win.”

This Spring semester brings another opportunity for one school to claim victory and touch lives!

Jim Orlander

New Mother Saved, Thanks to Donors By Sunshine Wingfield, Community Relations Intern

Bryan and Katy Roybal could not have been more excited as the couple welcomed its first child into the world: a precious

baby girl named Jane. But only a short time after delivery, Bryan noticed his wife seemed pale and shaky.

Bryan says it quickly went from being the best day of his life to the worst as he watched Katy fight for her life. Doctors discovered Katy was hemorrhaging, and she was immediately

rushed to surgery. The procedure did not effectively stop the bleeding, and Katy hemorrhaged a second time. She then underwent an emergency hysterectomy. In total, she needed 22 units of blood plus platelets.

“I shudder to think about what would have happened if there hadn’t been blood available,” Katy said. “Without those who donated, my daughter would not have her mother, and my husband would be raising Jane alone.”

Having almost lost his wife in 2011, Bryan was inspired to become a blood donor. “I plan on giving regularly now,” he said.

“We are grateful to all the people who gave blood and saved my life,” said Katy. “They have given our family a second chance.”

Fifty-three members of Sigma Chi came out to donate at OU in November.

Katy Roybal with husband, Bryan, and daughter, Jane, is thankful to be able to watch her daughter grow up.Photo courtesy of Laura Jacobs Photography

PULSE — PAGE 3 — SPRING ‘13 FEEL GOOD. GIVE BLOOD.

Sharon Bakie, Ardmore donor center volunteer

J.P. Potter, chief information officer for the Blood Institute

Meet Our New Chief Information OfficerJ.P. Potter has joined Oklahoma Blood Institute as its chief information officer. Potter leads the information technology (IT) team in managing computer software, networks and other technical functions across all locations served in Oklahoma, north central Texas and western Arkansas.

Potter joins the executive team after serving five years in IT leadership with Chesapeake Energy. His 33-year career has included a broad range of IT roles in industries including computer services, electric utility, retail, consulting and oil and gas. He earned degrees in both Business Administration and Computer Science at Drury University.

“J.P. is a leader in the IT industry, and his vast know-ledge and skill sets are already proving valuable to our organization,” said John Armitage, M.D.

Sharon Bakie, Ardmore, doesn’t mind being called a ‘bag lady’. The whimsical name has been given to her and others who volunteer to assemble blood bags at our donor centers.

Sharon began volunteering at the Ardmore donor center about a year ago. Through her giving spirit, blood bags needed year round are precisely labeled and packaged. With more than 250,000 donations each year, the volume of bags required is enormous. Each bag represents a future blood donation that can save as many as three people’s lives.

Sharon says she’s known the importance of blood donation since she was a young girl. She recalls her mother, who

had a rare blood type, making time to give.

Lynette Blevins, Ada and Ardmore volunteer coordinator, hopes that Sharon’s story will lead others with a giving spirit to offer their assistance. “In Ada and Ardmore, we particularly need people who can give a half day each week on a regular basis,” she said. “Volunteers willing to welcome donors, assist with simple clerical tasks and assemble blood bags at the donor center are needed.”

Ada’s donor center recently honored outstanding volunteers like Sharon at its annual volunteer appreciation event. The Volunteer Team of the Year was David and Kathy Timmons. They have volunteered for nine months as greeters at blood drives in Atoka, Coal and Pittsburg counties. They are members of the Pittsburg County Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Ada’s Newcomer Award went to Cheryl Linker. Cheryl started volunteering at the donor center in December, and is the first member of Ada’s blood bag crew!

Other Ada volunteers recognized were Joe Catalano, Volunteer of the Year, with 108 hours of service in 2012, and Billie Tomlinson, McCurtain County volunteer, with 13 years of volunteer service.

We are grateful to all of our wonderful volunteers in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas!

Visit the Volunteer pages on our website, or contact Stephanie Huston at 918-477-0420 or shuston@obi.org if you would like to volunteer in your area.

Volunteers Show Giving Spirit Year Round

(L to R): David and Kathy Timmons with John Armitage, M.D.

(L to R): Susan Crews, Ada executivedirector; Lynette Blevins, Ada volunteer coordinator; and Cheryl Linker

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PERMIT #527 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

PULSE — PAGE 4 — SPRING ‘13 FEEL GOOD. GIVE BLOOD.

Toll Free: 877-340-8777 • Headquarters: 1001 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104

When Dan Metzler and Melissa Mays hit the road, these loyal donors will be promoting blood donation from the comfort of their vehicles. They are the first two donors to cash in their Donor Rewards Points for Oklahoma Blood Institute customized license plates.

Oklahoma Blood Institute 1001 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Donors Cash in Points for License Plates

Donor Dan Metzler proudly displays his OBI license plate.

Innovation: Cord Blood Bank Planned

The Donor Rewards Store is just one way donors are recognized. Donor Rewards Points, redeemable for merchandise and gift cards in our online store, are awarded with each blood donation. The store is open the months of April, September and December each year.

Visit our website. Scroll over the Blood Donors tab at the top of the home page. Select Donor Rewards and log in with your donor ID number to track your points and shop!

Every day, umbilical cord blood that can save lives is discarded. Without a local, public umbilical cord blood bank, most mothers have no option to donate it. That will change later this year when the Blood Institute opens Oklahoma’s first and only cord blood bank. It will be one of only 20 nationwide to meet rigorous accreditation standards. As a national leader in transfusion medicine and affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program, OBI is uniquely qualified with the most advanced technology for blood processing and testing within the region.

Cord blood is an alternative to embryonic stem cells. There are no ethical or moral concerns regarding umbilical cord blood. Currently, the umbilical cord is disposed of as medical waste after a baby is born.

Yet, there are thousands in need of stem cell transplants for blood cancers and other disorders. Stem cells play a key role in regenerative therapies used to treat diseases ranging from diabetes to heart disease. As more treatment

successes are found, stem cells from umbilical cord blood have the potential to revolutionize care for the most life-threatening diseases.

Once the program is launched, our cord blood clinicians will inform expectant mothers of the opportunity to donate. It is free to the parents, and the donation process is simple and painless. After delivery and separation of the cord from the baby, the mother’s physician or nurse will use a syringe to collect the blood. Donation doesn’t change the delivery process and is only performed in an uncomplicated delivery with a healthy mother and baby.

For many Oklahoma families celebrating a joyous time in their own lives, cord blood donation will provide a way to, potentially, bring life-saving joy to someone else’s life.

If you would like to support Oklahoma Blood Institute to make this program a reality, contact Gary Lynch, Blood Institute Director of Development, 405-297-5545.