Pageant queen highlights the beauty of blood donation

A beauty queen finalist has called for more blood donors to come forward, after treatment saved her life as a baby.

Sarah Cannan, now 22, was born critically ill with a blockage in her lungs. She needed to be put on a specialist life support machine to help her breathe.

Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-support machine that temporarily does the job of the heart and lungs by oxygenating blood outside the body and pumping it back in. Patients who receive this treatment often need regular platelet transfusions.

Platelets are one of the four main components of blood and make up part of a whole blood donation. But people who are eligible can also sign up to become platelet donors.

Now Sarah, who will compete in the finals of Miss Great Britain Ayrshire this summer, is calling on people to consider donating blood to help babies in similar situations.

Sarah says: 'It makes me sad to look back at pictures of myself as a baby and to think about everything my mum and dad went through when I was sick.

'But I've come so far since then, and it's really because of the amazing medical team who worked at Yorkhill at time.

'I also just want to stress how important it is that people keep coming forward to donate blood, it literally can save the lives of babies who have been born sick like I was.

'Your generous donation can go a long way to make sure they have the chance to get better and live their lives.'

• If you've been inspired by Sarah’s story, check your eligibility and book an appointment to give blood. You can also contact us at snbtsenquiry@nhs.scot or by calling 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).
• Or if you’re interested in becoming a platelet donor, get in touch.