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Mum and 'miracle baby' join call for festive blood donations

News imageBBC A woman wearing a red polka-dot blouse is sitting indoors in front of a decorated Christmas tree, holding a young child dressed in a red tartan outfit.BBC
Alexandria and mum Nicolle are preparing for her first Christmas

The family of a baby who received four blood transfusions following her premature birth are calling on more people to give the gift of life this Christmas by becoming blood donors.

Nicolle Hollick from Dunfermline said the donations made all the difference to her daughter Alexandria, who was born at 26 weeks and spent 102 days in hospital.

New figures show fewer than 2% of people in Scotland are currently donating blood, down from about 3% ten years ago.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) says the decline—almost 30,000 fewer donors—puts pressure on hospitals, which need around 450 donations every day.

There are eight different blood groups. SNBTS aim to retain five to seven days supply of all eight blood groups at all times.

Blood has a short shelf life of 35 days, meaning regular donations are essential.

News imageNicolle Hollick A woman is seated in a hospital chair holding a very small premature baby against her chest. The baby is wrapped in a white blanket and connected to medical tubes and monitoring equipment.Nicolle Hollick
Alexandra was born at 26 weeks, weighing 2.1lbs (0.9kg).

One person who knows just how critical blood donations can be is Nicolle Hollick from Dunfermline. Her daughter Alexandria needed four blood transfusions after being born at 26 weeks, weighing 2.1lbs (0.9kg).

Nicolle said: "After 102 days in hospital, in April this year, we brought our baby home. She had been through so much in her wee life already. She was intubated at birth, needed oxygen support at home, and received four blood transfusions.

"Her dad Dan and I believe she is our total miracle and our warrior princess. We absolutely cannot wait to celebrate her first Christmas.

"She never gave up. To the blood donors who helped give her a chance at life – thank you for giving us our world."

SNBTS is encouraging people to book appointments during the winter period, when demand is high.

Debbie McNaughton from SNBTS said: "The fact less than 2% of the population are actively giving blood is a concerning trend.

"In the last 10 years we have seen a drop of 24% - which is just under 30,000 donors. We are also seeing a particular challenge around younger people coming forward.

"The blood supply has been maintained by our regular donors giving more often, but we really need new donors, or those who have not given for some time, to come forward."

Donor centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness have been quieter recently, and SNBTS hopes more people will come forward.

Appointments can be booked at www.scotblood.co.uk or by calling 0345 90 90 999.