November 11, 2005

MGH blood donor receives a special thank-you

For the donors of the MGH Blood Donor Center, the knowledge that a gift of blood will help another person is a reward in itself. However, for Paula Wright, RN, of the MGH Infection Control Unit, a donation this past summer brought an unexpected bonus — a pair of roundtrip tickets to any destination served by Independence Air. Wright was the grand-prize winner in a raffle for MGH donors who participated in the MGH vs. BWH Blood Donor Challenge, held to encourage donations during the critical summer months — a time when the number of blood donations drop, even as the amount of blood needed to maintain supplies stays the same. Wright, a longtime donor, said, "Although my schedule is very busy, I try to donate to the Blood Donor Center whenever I can." She plans to use her plane tickets to visit her sons in Florida.

Wright, left, receives her prize from Alison Horanieh of the Blood Donor Center.