# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DC98lydN-l7
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72589316-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/04860a5c2a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-11-29T20:00:38.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

In 1993, Dwayne Cree Medicine witnessed a man hurting a woman and stepped in to defend her. The attacker shot Dwayne in the leg, leaving him fighting for his life. His heart stopped, he was revived three times, and doctors had to amputate his lower leg.

As a member of the Blackfeet Tribe, Dwayne grew up believing that he must keep everything he was born with, including toenails, hair and blood, to ensure a smoother and faster journey to the next life. The tradition was so important to him that when he learned he needed an amputation, Dwayne asked if he could keep his leg so that he could bury it in the family cemetery on his reservation.

Dwayne had never donated blood, but this life-changing experience shifted his perspective and that of his loved ones. He recalls being told by his spiritual leader, “The story that you have, it has changed people’s lives on the reservation because it goes back to: If we didn’t give blood, we would’ve lost Dwayne.”

“My children give blood,” Dwayne said. “My mom was against it — now she gives blood. My dad, before he passed away, was against it and gave blood. My sisters give blood.”

Dwayne is now working toward his 2-gallon blood donation milestone, and we're very thankful for his commitment to giving back. We hope his story inspires you to give the gift of life this holiday season — tap on the link in our bio to get started. #StoriesThatInspire #GiveWithMeaning

#NativeAmericanHeritageDay #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NativeAmericanHeritage #BlackfeetNation #DonateBlood #GiveBlood #BloodDonor #DonatePlatelets #PlateletDonor #DonateBloodSaveLives #GiveBloodSaveLives

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- **Likes:** 859
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## Tags

donatebloodsavelives, plateletdonor, blackfeetnation, givebloodsavelives, nativeamericanheritageday, givewithmeaning, blooddonor, nativeamericanheritagemonth, donateplatelets, storiesthatinspire, nativeamericanheritage, giveblood, donateblood

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