By Jenny Farley

Dave and Jillian Thomas met ten years ago on a dating app. This year they are celebrating five years of marriage.

“On our first date, Dave cut up my dinner for me and I knew we’d be a match,” Jillian said.

Jillian, a physician’s assistant who works in an emergency room, has no muscle in her hands. She has Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA).

She explained her genetic condition as “a very rare blood disorder that means you don’t produce red blood cells. There are less than 1,000 people in the world who have it.”

For Jillian, living with DBA means she gets tired easily. “When you don’t have red blood cells you can’t breathe. Going up the steps is difficult. Even turning over in bed is hard,” she said.

As a last resort, treatment may mean a bone marrow transplant, but most patients are treated with steroids and blood transfusions. Jillian has had at least 20 transfusions but considers herself lucky that she hasn’t had more.

“For people that are unable to be responsive to medication, it’s usually every three to four weeks,” she said.

Jillian’s husband Dave said, “Fortunately, her case is a lot less severe than a lot of people who are transfusion dependent.”

Dave started donating blood about seven years ago after going with his wife to receive her transfusion.

“It’s really rewarding to be able to. I’m happy to give it. It’s great that people like my wife can benefit from something that fortunately I‘ve got a plentiful supply of.”

Dave has donated at least 11 units of blood — some of them “power red” donations, where two units red blood cells get separated out and the plasma and platelets get returned back to him during the donation.

“It’s a very simple way to do something that saves people’s lives. A simple way to have a massive impact for others. I don’t know why I didn’t do this all along. I don’t need it. Somebody else does,” he said.

When he started giving, Dave and Jillian learned something that surprised them. He had A negative blood, just like Jillian.

“I always tell people that we are a match made in heaven because A negative is one of the rarer blood types,” Jillian said. In fact, only 1 in 16 people have A negative blood.

Donating blood led Dave to be more involved with the Red Cross, and he became a board member for the Red Cross Delaware Valley Chapter. With a background in insurance, it was the perfect blend of his personal and professional lives.

“The Red Cross is a massive organization that does a lot of good,” he said. He believes in the Red Cross mission.

“Serving those who need it most in times of disaster and in times of need no matter what that is. It’s amazing, every time something bad happens the Red Cross is there,” Dave said.

His service to the Red Cross makes his wife proud. “Dave’s the type that will stop the car to help the turtle cross the road, so I’m not surprised he got involved in such a philanthropic community,” she said.

Dave has helped out at Sound the Alarm events where Red Cross workers go door to door installing free smoke detectors. He has also volunteered by making phone calls to thank people who have organized blood drives.

“It’s amazing how many people are generous with their time and their money. One of the things that’s most impactful is the mobilization of good people,” he said.

The Red Cross provides about 40% of America’s blood supply. Jillian said it takes about 2 ½ hours to receive a blood transfusion. During that time, she stares at the blood and thinks about who donated it and where it came from.

She learned something from a DBA community group on Facebook that sticks with her. She read about a little girl who believes she inherits the personality of the blood donor during transfusions.

“If she’s reading more, it’s because she got the blood of an author. If she’s dancing better, it’s because she got the blood of a dancer. So nice!”

If you are thinking about giving blood but haven’t yet, think about something else Jillian said.

“I have a shirt that says my life was saved by a blood donor. It’s because of people’s generosity, relying solely on the compassion of others, that my life has been saved.”

Help the Red Cross celebrate World Blood Donor Day and meet the critical needs of patients. Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule a time to give now.