Shannon Harvey, an employee with UNC Global and delegate on the Employee Forum, understands first-hand the importance of blood donation. She and her husband Matthew welcomed their son, Marsden, into the world on February 27, 2017, at N.C. Women’s Hospital, after seven years of marriage. The joyous occasion was accompanied by a frightening complication, necessitating emergency surgery.
Shannon received a total of seven units of blood during the birth and subsequent surgeries. Surgeons estimated that she lost nearly her body’s full volume of blood during labor, an emergency which would have resulted in her death had there not been enough donated blood on hand. Blood donation agencies, like the American Red Cross, made it possible for Shannon’s story to have a happy ending. Mother and son are home in Chapel Hill now and recuperating well.
The experience left Shannon with a renewed sense of focus on the importance of blood donation, and she plans to work closely with the Carolina Blood Drive Committee upon her return from leave. “Give blood if you can, as often as you can,” she advises. “It’s entirely possible that you’re not just helping a stranger, but someone you know, a coworker or friend.”
The Employee Forum is glad that Shannon is healing well and looks forward to her return to her work and the Forum. We hope her experience inspires other UNC employees to give blood at the 29th Annual Carolina Blood Drive, which will take place on June 6 in the Dean E. Smith Center from 7:00am – 6:00pm. Your donation helps save lives.