Bloodworks 101

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message When the Tualatin City Council met recently during National Blood Donor Month, an official proclamation was read, honoring Bloodworks Northwest. On these occasions, there's usually a lot of pomp and bluster. Official proclamations can often go on and on. But little did those attending the meeting know, this official proclamation hit...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message February is Black History Month, a time set aside to celebrate achievements by Black Americans in this country. But as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, it's also a time to take a good hard look at how the blood banking industry has failed to reach out to this community in a meaningful and long-lasting way. That failure...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message This week, Bloodworks Northwest has been forced to declare a "Code Red" regarding the state of the blood supply in our region. As Bloodworks 101 producer found out in his talk with Bloodworks President & CEO Curt Bailey, there are many reasons we find ourselves here and the way out of the woods may not come quickly.    Suppo...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message To say we live in politically polarized times would be an understatement. But there are issues where conservatives and liberals can find common ground. Blood donation is one of them and it's Juan Cotto's job as Bloodworks' Director for Government Affairs to bring Washington State's politicians together on this lifesavi...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Bloodworks 101 Co-Producer Helen Pitlick met up with Dennis Gelvin at Bloodworks’ Olympia Donor center to get a lesson in philately (fill-at-uh-lee): the study and collection of stamps and other items related to mail and postage. As it turns out, there are more than a few parallels between blood donation and philately. For pictures and mo...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Most platelet donations are stored at room temperature, sacrificing shelf life for circulation time in a patient's body. But patients who are actively bleeding don't need platelets to last for a long time — they need them to get to work, fast. The Stolla lab at Bloodworks Research Institute is investigating the efficacy of cold-...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message January is National Blood Donor Month, a time set aside to celebrate the importance of blood donation and the act of "giving back." So, we're recognizing two members of our community who live out those words by how they give back to our community. And thanks to committed members of our music community and Sonic Guild, Blood...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message In 2016, University of Washington sociology professor and mother of two, Alexes Harris was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a type of cancer where the blood-producing cells in a patient’s bone marrow became abnormal and create blood cells that don’t function properly. As Bloodworks 101 producer Bill Harper tells us, Alexes u...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message In February of 2024, since it was Black History Month, we took a hard look at Sickle Cell Disease, a devastating genetic blood disorder that predominantly impacts people of African descent. In this Bloodworks 101 Best of 2024 episode, producer Helen Pitlick told us that Sickle Cell disease is an unfortunate reality for many members of Bla...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Meet Bloodworks' newest Principal Investigator, Dr. Moua Yang. Dr. Yang sat down with Bloodworks 101 producer Helen Pitlick to discuss his research, what drives his work, and how Bloodworks Research Institute is changing how we think about more than just blood -- Dr. Yang just might make you eat your veggies, too. Here's today&a...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message When you walk into a Bloodworks Northwest Donor Center, mobile drive or pop-up center to donate blood, you never know the difference you can make. Ridgefield, Washington's Joshua Bell has first-hand knowledge of that. And as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager tells us in this BEST OF 2024 episode, that donation can often make the bi...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Did you know that the history of blood transfusion goes back four centuries? There's a lot that we don't know about blood. January is National Blood Donor Month, a time set aside to raise awareness for the cause of blood donation because typically in January, there are fewer donors after the winter holidays, even though blood is...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Wednesday, December 18th is State Blood Donor Day in the State of Washington. Bloodworks Northwest' s Director for Government Affairs, Juan Cotto came up with the idea a few years ago to honor the state's first responders and to draw attention to the need for blood. We picked December 18th because it markes the anniversary of a...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message December 18th is set aside each year in the State of Washington as State Blood Donor Day. Bloodworks Northwest has led the effort behind it in order to recognize the need for blood when emergencies hit but also to honor first responders who were on the scene December 18th, 2017 when Amtrak 501 derailed, killing three, injuring dozens and...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message This is a special ENCORE edition of Bloodworks 101, we're calling, “The New Era of Blood Donation.” We’re re-publishing it this week because something very significant happened one year ago this week. After more than thirty years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finally lifted its deferral on blood donations from gay and bisexu...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Since it's Thanksgiving, it seemed like a good idea to thank the thousands of generous Bloodworks Northwest donors who come through our donor centers every single day. One of those donors is a guy who used to be, in his words, "a fainter." He's former KING5 reporter Chris Cashman, who hosted a series of videos this spr...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message University of Washington senior Bryn Ament has a very cool job: she's a handler for one of the biggest celebrities in the state. She's also a blood donor, and the We Give Blood Drive with Big Ten and Abbott is an opportunity to bring both these worlds together. Support the show

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Veterans' Day was set aside to honor those servicemen and women who put country first. Ask veterans what they got out of the experience and you'll probably get a wide variety of answers. Bloodworks Northwest President & CEO served as a chopper pilot with the United States Marines, an experience that has helped shape him as a...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message How is workplace safety like steering an aircraft carrier? Randy Pickett will tell you. As manager of Bloodworks' Occupational Health and Safety program and a Navy veteran, he has plenty of experience in both. Support the show

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Do you believe in ghosts? Seems like a good question to ask since it's Halloween. Well, whatever you call them, something unexplained is happening at the new Bloodworks Donor Center in Beaverton, Oregon. And as producer John Yeager found out, the director there, Jake Cole is not only seeing and hearing things he cannot explain but it...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Do you believe in ghosts? Before you answer that question, it might be a good idea to listen to this edition of Bloodworks 101. Well, maybe not. Because if you do believe, this will send shivers up your spine. That's what happened to producer John Yeager when he travelled to the Bloodworks Donor Center in Eugene, Oregon, where they c...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message As a fitness buff, Randy Cantrell knew he wanted to do something big to celebrate turning 70. And as a lifelong blood donor, he also wanted raise money for Bloodworks. Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick joined Randy for a walk around Green Lake in Seattle as part of his epic birthday fundraiser. Got a creative idea for a fundraiser?...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Overcoming a fear of needles can be a daunting task but consider the consequences, if you can do it - you can literally save a life. That's what Bloodworks Northwest donor Yosi Elison thought about when his long-time girlfriend, Melissa Maron finally convinced him to make an appointment and donate blood. But little did he know, that...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message When you walk into a Bloodworks Northwest Donor Center, mobile drive or pop-up center to donate, you never know the difference you can make. Ridgefield, Washington's Joshua Bell has first-hand knowledge of that. And as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out, according to Bell, that donation can make the biggest difference in t...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Growing up Mexican in Eastern Washington presented a lot of challenges for Jose Iniquez, especially since he wanted to be an opera singer. But as Bloodworks 101 contributor Juan Cotto discovered, Iniguez has made overcoming challenges his life's work.  Support the show