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Childbirth is rarely easy. But for Anthea, it was traumatic.

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Blood donations were crucial to Sebastian’s cancer treatment

For two years, Sebastian relied on blood donors for cancer treatment. Today, he’s a graduate from both the Royal Children’s Hospital and as a Year 12 Dux.

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James Harrison - The Man With the Golden Arm

Sure, there are some impressive record holders throughout history, but how many of them can claim to have saved up to 2.4 million babies?

Shoba was the only stem cell match in the world

It was a simple conversation that launched Lifeblood nurse, Shoba, on the path to change a stranger’s life.

Looking for a reason to give blood? This couple has a few.

To help celebrate the launch of the Life Is The Reason campaign, we caught up with married couple and milestone donors, Amanda and Michael, to find out what motivates them.

When Kiani was diagnosed with leukaemia, blood donors were ready to help.

Olivia and Lee are in the fight of their lives to save their little girl. Thanks to an incredible medical team and countless blood donors, they’re starting to feel hope again.

For Paralympian Rachael Watson, plasma donations are liquid gold

While Paralympian Rachael Watson takes on the world, at home, an army of donors are rolling up their sleeves to provide the life-changing plasma that helps make it possible.

An anti-D tale of maternal magic

Inspired by her mum, anti-D donor Robyn unwittingly became the hero of her own family when her daughter Hannah needed the treatment during pregnancy.

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Volunteers smooth the way for donors: meet Caz and Mim

There’s plenty that goes on behind the scenes of every donation.

02 April 2024

What does blood donation have to do with gastroenterology?

There’s a common misconception that blood donations are only used to treat people in hospital emergency rooms, but there are many fields of medicine that rely on blood products.

28 March 2024

photo of nurse emma wearing a blue top and gloves holding a blood bag

Emma relies on blood donors to save lives

As a practice development nurse specialising in both surgery and haematology, Emma has seen the life-saving impact blood donors can have on the patients in her care.

28 March 2024

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How blood donors help paediatric nurses save little lives

As a paediatric care nurse, Abbey has seen first-hand what blood donations can do for a child in need. Discover how blood donors help her save lives every day.

28 March 2024

Three transplants and a baby

Just before Christmas 2023, 31-year-old Kirsty Bryant welcomed her second baby Henry after becoming the first person in Australia to receive a uterus transplant, thanks to a team of incredibl

06 March 2024

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Blood donors are standing up (while sitting down) for kids living with cancer

Classmates Piper and Tom, are just two of the 750 children diagnosed with cancer every year. Discover how blood donors are helping them (and hundreds like them) stand up to cancer.

22 January 2024

Where are they now? How blood donors helped Mason overcome cancer

When people meet Mason, they see a friend, heading out for a bike ride; an older brother showing his siblings the ropes; a devoted student, with near perfect attendance.

22 January 2024

Michael Klim along with 32 donors dressed in red swimwear at Bondi

An Olympic effort

Bringing a Lifeblood ambassador to life.

24 November 2023

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Lachie’s bone marrow donation gave Jamison life

An urgent bone marrow transplant from a sibling donor was the best option for Jamison, so his older brother Lachie stepped up and did just that.

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Australians respond for Amira

When Australians first heard about Amira, who needed a blood type that we didn’t have in supply, they responded in droves.

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Daniel gives plasma for wife Kylie’s life

Daniel was a plasma donor for more than 15 years, but when his wife was diagnosed with an immunodeficiency, it made his contributions even more important.

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Lifeblood and blood donors are stepping up to fight cancer

Close to 20,000 Australians will be newly diagnosed with a form of blood cancer this year.

11 August 2023

Laurie finds inspiration in his great great gran’s story

Content warning: This article may contain topics that you may find sensitive or distressing.

27 June 2023

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Enhancing Ebony’s immunity with plasma

When you donate plasma, you give people like Ebony a shot at a healthy life through an army of life-saving germ-fighters.

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From plasma to breast milk, giving is in Amanda’s blood

Leading by example, Amanda hopes to inspire others to give while they can.

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Dear Donors: from boy in a bubble to unstoppable bubbly boy

Plasma donors are Ismaeel’s secret weapon for fighting infections.

20 June 2023

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A plasma donation prolonged John's life

This article is republished from The Senior.

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Dear Donors: The Stannards' Story

Miriam and her young family have faced more challenges in the past 10 years than most families will face in a lifetime. Collectively, they have received over 100 transfusions. Their story is one of hope, love and perseverance.

It takes a village to save a life

Like most people, Gina had never heard of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

30 May 2023

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More power to you Peter

Getting well enough to donate blood again kept Peter going through his cancer treatment.

Three generations of women who give

Finding a way to give back made a huge difference to Fatima and her family. And now, they get to celebrate every donation surrounded by family — and with homemade pizza, of course.

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Jase faced his cancer with an army of donors

Jase’s cancer diagnosis brought a community of blood donors together

30 January 2023

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How a cancer diagnosis turned a mother into a lifesaver

After learning her baby boy had cancer, Candice felt powerless, but she found hope in blood donation.

30 January 2023

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Dinushka wants to thank Australia's plasma donors

Recipient Dinushka thanks plasma donors around the country, whose generosity helped fight her severe infection

How a faecal microbiota transplant changed Kevin’s life

Kevin had his life transformed by something most of us are flushing down the toilet.

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A crew of life-givers

When David’s mum was told she had six months to find a match for her bone marrow transplant, his friends and family stepped up for the cause.

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A running passion for life

Since conquering his fear of needles thirteen years ago, Jarrod’s kicking goals in and out of the donor chair

close up of recipient robert holloway and kelly seated on a motorbike, robert is wearing black sunglasses

Dear Donors: Robert Holloway's Story

When you look at Bob Holloway, you’ll see a 64-year old man who loves motorbikes, his family, and being outdoors. But there’s a lot you don’t see.

15 September 2022

Why finally becoming a blood donor means so much to this Dad

Matthew sometimes feels bad that he didn’t give much thought to donating blood until someone he knew needed it.

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Plasma gives Charlie life every week

Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, Charlie relies on a regular infusion of immunoglobulin for protection against common viruses and bacteria.

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Jacob’s second chance at life

Twelve years after a near-fatal car accident with a 5% chance of survival, Jacob is determined to make the most of his life

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Giving life beyond blood

How a generous organ donation gave little Maia the best chance at a normal life.

Donor Stephen is lying in a chair, with a bandage on his arm from donating plasma for the anti-D program

Anti-D donor Steve Gansberg is just happy to help

Steve is an anti-D donor, and the plasma he gives has saved the lives of thousands of babies.  

09 June 2022

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Wayne’s journey from donor to recipient

50-year-old Wayne from the NSW south coast started donating in 2008 following the death of a close friend, Ashley Cooper.

photo of donor Bruce and recipient Taylor smiling and holding a sign with 600 donations written on it

On a roll with 600 donations

Aunty Mary’s challengeMore than 30 years ago Bruce walked into the Brookvale Oval mobile donor centre to give blood. His motivation for donation?

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Meet the McCallums

Say hello to Amber McCallum and her children, Jayden, Tegan and Zara.

josh and kerryn miller are standing beside donor marieon schauer while she's donating

Lifeblood calls for “liquid gold” donations in Penrith to help cancer survivors stay well

It has taken more than 1000 blood donations for 12 year-old Josh Miller to beat cancer, and he and his mother Kerryn are this week thanking donors in the Penrith area for helping children like him

01 April 2022

illustration of a mother holding a baby in her arms and a scientist wearing a white lab coat standing beside her

Marvels of motherhood

"It’s like your world turns upside down, but I just love being a mum. It’s challenging but on the other hand, very rewarding."

15 February 2022

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Mapping out a passion for donating

Peter joined our anti-D program in 2017, when his wife encouraged him to give blood in her place while s

28 January 2022

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Casey’s support crew

A Split-second Decision For the first two months of Casey’s life, his mum Sam tried whatever she could to ease what she thought was a chronic case of reflux.

17 January 2022

Perks of being a Lifeblood volunteer

Our volunteers are an essential part of making the donation process run smoothly, and their mighty and quiet acts of service help to ensure our donors are well looked after.

14 September 2021

Plasma recipient Marleigh at a sporting match

Milkshakes for Marleigh

Some people, like 5-year-old Marleigh, can depend on blood products for a really long time.

14 September 2021

Beau and his dog in a backyard, Beau is looking off camera and smiling

For Beau, Lifeblood is more than blood

Since receiving his new lungs, Beau’s life has changed for the better, or as he would say, he’s “definitely not complaining.”

How a donated heart saved Miranda's life

When Lifeblood helped match Miranda to a donor heart, her excruciating wait was over. Now, she has a new heartbeat and a new lease on life. See her story.

14 July 2021

How donated blood and platelets helped Gennaro

Donated blood and platelets helped Gennaro stay strong, and survive.

How donated breast milk helped Flynn

When little Flynn arrived much earlier than expected, donated breast milk helped him and his family through those tough first weeks.

Jess’s beautiful gift for vulnerable babies

When we established Lifeblood Milk, only around 25% of babies born in Australia had access to a safe supply of donated breast milk.

05 July 2021

Donor spotlight: Lifeblood Champion James

When did you start donating, and why? I made my first donation in the USA in 1994, while travelling.

05 July 2021

Meet Troy's boys

When Troy is working in our Toowoomba Blood Donor Centre, he has a powerful story to share with donors.

Eva’s story

Your life might have changed, but for Australians like Eva, your blood donation is as essential as ever.

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Young cancer survivor gives back to blood challenge

This blog was originally published by the Australian Government Department of Defence.

10 February 2021

Thumbnail of little Ellie, clasping her hands together, and her family

Little Ellie defies the odds

“It's extremely bittersweet, knowing there was a family out there who had to say goodbye to their child, so our Ellie could receive their heart," says Ellie's dad Andrew.

12 August 2020

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Samara “is an absolute miracle” thanks to blood donors

This article is republished from The Cancer Centre for Children.

06 May 2020

danny with donor centre staff holding up caricatures he has drawn

Donor Danny draws blood at Ringwood Donor Centre

For the talented cartoonist the donation couch is a chance to sit back and draw.

17 March 2020

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60 donors for 60 years

Robyn was inspired by another local donor who had recruited 50 donors for his 50th and decided she wanted to 10-up him!

24 January 2020

a donor is sitting in a chair and smiling while a nurse assists him

Five amazing stories that Giving Life gave us

Our series Giving Life has followed the inspiring stories of those who give, receive and make life possible.

22 January 2020

Thumbnail of Chloe Bayliss, crouching and wearing red and black

Chloe Bayliss on the fight of her life

Our favourite role of Chloe’s is the one in which she proudly acts as a Lifeblood ambassador. 

26 November 2019

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Donor legend Dawn Jarrett retires after 600 donations

We think there’s something very special about our donors.

21 May 2019

long term donor robert is seated in a donation chair with a nurse standing alongside him, both are smiling at the camera

Blood Donor, Lifesaver, Legend

Robert, who hails from Bermagui, drives more than 7 hours each fortnight to give blood plasma at Garran Blood Donor Centre, completing a 530km commute of up Clyde and down Brown Mountain.

01 February 2019

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A Father's story

For our She Gives Birth, You Give Blood initiative, we asked a number of women about their experience of giving birth and receiving blood – you can read some of those in our

19 September 2018

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50 transfusions bring a baby into the world

Jeremy’s wife Shannon received up to 50 transfusions throughout the course of two of her pregnancies, so he knows the value of partners and family of pregnant women donating blood.

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Meet the Bloody Legends of National Blood Donor Week, 2018

Every day we are grateful for the hundreds of people who visit us to donate blood and save lives.

29 August 2018

For Nick, your donation is a game changer

Over the past 30 years, Nick has received 360 infusions from donated plasma.

How plasma donations changed Jake’s life

When Jake lay unconscious in a hospital bed at 16, it was plasma donations that would ultimately save his life. Jake hadn’t been in an accident, and he didn’t have a disease.

10 July 2018

Thanks to weekly plasma infusions, Austin can live a healthy life

Francina appeared to have a perfect pregnancy, but her instincts told her otherwise.

10 July 2018

Brodie and his mum together, reading from a piece of paper

"Thanks for saving our Brodie"

When Brodie was just five weeks old, his parents received a call from the Royal Children’s Hospital. A moment Sarah, Brodie’s mother, remembers all too well.

10 July 2018

jess is wearing a green jumper in a bright room

The day strangers saved Jess' life

Today, Jess is more determined than ever to make people aware of how important and life-saving plasma donations can be.

10 July 2018

When blood attacks blood: Heather and Alison's story

Twelve hours after Heather’s baby, Alison, was born, all the blood coursing through her little veins was replaced with donated blood.

10 May 2018

Plasma recipient Hayley and her dog by a red car

How plasma donations changed the game for Hayley

Medical treatments made from plasma donations changed the game for her when she was diagnosed back in 2016.

mayank is smiling with trees in the background

A first-time plasma donor tells it like it is

Mayank is a Canberra-based PhD graduate, who finished university in 2016 after writing his thesis about artificial intelligence.

27 March 2018

AFL player and recipient Tom Lonergan with donor staff

How donated blood helped Geelong win the AFL Premiership in 2011

When Geelong AFL premiership player Tom Lonergan suffered an on-field injury, he needed Geelong’s entire supply of his blood type during surgery.

04 March 2018

How your blood donation can affect an entire community

Every blood donation has the potential to save three lives, but have you ever thought about all the people beyond that patient whose lives are richer and happier thanks to your donation?

02 March 2018