# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DaQSxBXD5fQ
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72587139-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0a50c1902b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-01T15:02:52.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Growing up, Allyson Ritchey spent her childhood in hospitals with her mother, who was diagnosed with leukemia when Allyson was just 8 years old.

“I was probably the only third grader or elementary student in my entire school who knew what leukemia was,” she said.

Throughout her mother’s treatment, blood — especially platelets — played a critical role.

“My mother had to go through a lot of transfusions,” Allyson said. “She actually needed a lot of platelet donations specifically.”

When Allyson reached high school, she tried to give blood for the first time, but it didn’t go as planned. She tried again in college, but once again, was unable to complete the donation. Still, she didn’t give up.

The third time was a charm.

It was March, a month that carries a lot of meaning for Allyson. Her mother’s birthday falls on March 1, and the anniversary of her passing on March 28. With both dates in mind, she decided to try one more time.

That day, her third attempt became her first successful blood donation.

“It was really meaningful to me,” Allyson said. “I finally was able to do it after so many failed attempts. It just felt like a full circle moment, especially realizing I’m helping someone who might have like a child like me watching.”

Allyson hopes her story encourages others — especially first‑time donors — to keep trying, even if it doesn’t work out right away.

“It can be scary, but I think even just trying is noble,” she said. “Maybe it won’t go well, maybe it will, but you won’t know until you try.”

#DonateBlood #GiveBlood #BloodDonor #DonateBloodSaveLives #GiveBloodSaveLives

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## Credits

No public credits are recorded here. This does not identify who made the post.

## Tags

blooddonor, giveblood, donateblood, donatebloodsavelives, givebloodsavelives

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