By Alana Mauger

Long before she started working at the American Red Cross, Ikea Smith and her family understood the importance of blood donations. Ikea’s niece received weekly blood transfusions for most of her young life to treat sickle cell disease and aplastic anemia.   

It was Ikea’s sister who first considered working for the Red Cross. After her sister inquired about a blood collections position, she realized she couldn’t spend that much time away from her daughter, who had been hospitalized for close to 7 months at the time. So she encouraged Ikea to apply.  

“At my first day of Red Cross orientation, I got the call that my niece was going to have a bone marrow transplant,” Ikea said, proving to herself that she was in the right place. 

In addition to the transplant, her niece had multiple brain surgeries to treat moyamoya disease – a rare, progressive cerebrovascular disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain. The three disorders proved to be too much for her niece’s body. She passed on at age 10.  

“I do my job in honor of her,” Ikea said. “It’s really a passion for me.” 

Coming from the mental and behavioral health field, phlebotomy was a big change for Ikea, who admits she never liked needles. But it’s a change she’s glad she made.  

“It’s my way of giving back,” she said.    

She also likes that her job allows her to meet new people, see new things and be in a new space every day.  

“Every day is a new adventure,” she said. 

Editor’s Note: National #BloodCollectorsWeek is Sept. 3-9, 2023. Celebrate those who ensure donors have great experiences and patients get the blood they need. Schedule an appointment to donate blood!