Paying it forward with CICBC

Kristi Lessen's story

[July 10, 2008]  Labor Day weekend 2006, while they were traveling home from a weekend getaway, a tragic motorcycle accident on Old Jacksonville Road in Berlin claimed the life of Springfield firefighter Jake Lessen and seriously injured his wife, Kristi. While two families and countless friends mourned Jake's passing, they were also grasping on to all hope for Kristi's survival.

After the exhausted work of medical staff on that traumatic night, Kristi survived. And after a dozen blood transfusions, Kristi was given the much-needed strength to keep fighting. She had to heal from a shattered humerus in her left arm as well as a stage 5 liver laceration, which caused internal bleeding. Now, almost two years later, Kristi is able to "pay it forward" for the very first time.

Sitting in the blood donor chair at the Masonic Temple on Monday, Kristi explains why this blood donation is so dear to her heart. "I'm still here. One of the reasons I'm still alive is because I received blood." She goes on to say, "I believe in paying it forward. It's the only way I can thank those who helped save me. And I can't thank them enough."

Tara Matheson, CICBC senior manager for donor relations, also says thank you. "We sincerely appreciate Kristi's willingness to give and her willingness to educate people on the importance of blood donation."

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center, CICBC, is a not-for-profit organization started in 1971 by St. John's Hospital and Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Now, the organization distributes blood to 19 hospitals in central and southwestern Illinois. "Logan County is a huge supporter of CICBC. This county provides more blood than their hospital uses," says Matheson. The blood that is not used carries over to other areas and hospitals still in need.

Once blood is donated, it is sent back to the CICBC lab in Springfield, where it is run through 14 different tests to make sure it is completely eligible to be distributed. "Statistics show that 60 percent of the population in Illinois is eligible to donate. But only 5 percent actually do," states Matheson. The blood bank's specific shortages right now are A-positive, O-positive and O-negative.

For more on volunteer and donor information, you can visit www.cicbc.org.

Monday's blood drive was hosted by the Lincoln Masonic Temple, 2022 N. Kickapoo St. Volunteers on-site were from the ALMH Auxiliary, and the food was provided by ALMH dietary.

"We are all connected," says Kristi, "and as long as I'm eligible, I will be giving back as much as I can."

[By JANELL WOOLARD]