Blood donations saved me - and my mum and daughter

Three generations of the same family whose lives were saved by blood transfusions have urged more people to become donors.

Lauren Webster, 35, a drug researcher at Dundee University, almost died when she was 15 after developing sepsis from a Crohn's Disease abscess.

Her baby daughter Isabella faced difficulties during delivery in January and received emergency blood transfusions minutes after her birth.

Lauren's mum Donna Webster, 61, also needed a blood transfusion during an emergency caesarean section giving birth to her daughter.

Donna, from Blairgowrie, said: "I look at Isabella, she's just the light of our lives now.

"We came so close to losing her, and she's just a joy.

"We're about to celebrate Isabella's first Christmas and that might never have happened without the generosity of blood donors."

Donna said it was remarkable to think that blood donations had saved three lives in her family.

She said: "Lauren might not have had a mum if I had died after I'd had her.

"I haemorrhaged quite badly afterwards and was rushed back to the labour suite to get the blood transfusion, which potentially saved my life.

"Then Lauren became very, very unwell - I really thought she was going to die. She had to have a blood transfusion and that basically saved her life.

"And Lauren might not have had a baby if Isabella had not had her blood donations, so we have been extremely lucky as a family."

There are currently almost 97,000 blood donors in Scotland, but the donor base has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) said another 15,000 blood, platelet and plasma donors are needed in December.

People can donate from the age of 17, but 50% fewer 17-year-olds are coming forward compared to the number in 2019.

Lauren said Isabella was born full-term in January, but faced severe complications including blood loss and lack of oxygen.

An emergency blood transfusion allowed Isabella to be stabilised and placed on a cooling blanket to preserve her organs.

Lauren said: "They put her on me for skin-to-skin (where the baby is placed directly onto the mother's chest) but then she was lifted off quickly because they realised something was wrong."

Lauren said that she and her partner were "in shock" as the medical team raced to save Isabella's life.

Lauren said: "She probably wouldn't have survived.

"I can't say for sure, but [the transfusion] perked her up enough so they could intubate and get all the lines into her and be able to put her on the blanket.

"You only have a certain amount of time to get them onto the blanket."

Lauren's life was also saved by an emergency blood transfusion 20 years ago.

She said: "I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at 15 and I had an abscess. I was rushed back to hospital and given blood quickly.

"It wasn't until family came down from up north to visit, I was like: "Am I dying?"

"I'm very grateful for people who give blood. I would have died, which means Isabella wouldn't be here

"And even though Isabella is here, without the blood transfusion she might not have been."

SNBTS associate director Debbie McNaughton said: "Maintaining a safe and regular supply of blood to hospitals is our top priority.

"The need for blood does not take a rest, and we will be collecting blood on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and Hogmanay.

"We are asking people to take time out of their busy schedules on these dates."