"Thank you will never, ever be enough"

When Eilidh Afrin was nearly 35 weeks pregnant, she noticed her baby had stopped moving. A quick call to her midwife turned into an emergency dash to Ninewells Hospital, where daughter Ailsa was delivered by emergency C-section, immediately resuscitated, and given the first of two blood transfusions.

 

Ailsa had suffered a rare condition called foetal maternal haemorrhage, where a baby loses blood into the mother’s bloodstream.

'That blood saved her life,' says Eilidh.

55% of the country's blood donors are 45 or over Debbie McNaughton, SNBTS

Now, as Ailsa approaches her first birthday, Eilidh is sharing their story during Blood Donor Week (9–15 June) to help the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) raise awareness of the urgent need for more donors - especially young people.

Scotland currently has around 95,000 active blood donors, but SNBTS needs 105,000 to meet demand. 55% of the country’s blood donors are now aged 45 or over. Young people aged 17–24 make up the smallest group of donors.

'We know life is busy, especially for young people,' says Debbie McNaughton of SNBTS. 'But giving blood is one of the most powerful things you can do. It saves lives - just like Ailsa's.'

Eilidh agrees. 'We don't know who donated the blood that saved our daughter. But someone out there-maybe even in our own community - gave us the greatest gift. Because of them, we get to watch Ailsa grow up.'

'We are so grateful, says Eilidh. 'Thank you will never, ever be enough.'

• Can you help someone like Ailsa? Make an appointment to give blood online – alternatively, give us a ring on 0345 90 90 90 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) to make an appointment