Calvanay Nunley is proud to call herself a mother and a sickle cell patient advocate
“I have really depended on blood transfusions my whole life,” says Calvanay Nunley. “If we didn’t have donors, I don’t know where I would be.”
Calvanay has relied on donors since she began receiving blood transfusions at the age of five. Blood transfusions are an important part of her treatment for sickle cell disease, the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S. Sickle cell disease distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent shaped. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which may lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, anemia, and even strokes.
Without regular red blood cell exchanges every three weeks – known as apheresis – Calvanay might not be able to call herself a mother, nurse, children’s camp director, non-profit founder and sickle cell patient advocate. “I wear many hats,” she says.
Meet Alvin Ehiriodo, American Red Cross blood donor, former volunteer and current employee. When it comes to the Red Cross, Alvin has done it all!
“I believe in the mission [of saving lives],” Alvin says of his commitment to the Red Cross. “I want to work for an organization that cares about the work they do.”
Pastor Riley praying over a wounded service member in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Frank Riley
As the largest non-profit humanitarian international organization, the American Red Cross unites volunteers globally in a common mission of service to others — a mission that blood donor Frank Riley strongly believes in. From his time serving in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps to serving his communities as a pastor, Frank has made it a priority to live out the Red Cross mission in every aspect of his life.
Frank has been a consistent blood donor since 2008 after learning that he has cytomegalovirus (CMV) negative blood, a rare blood type needed by premature babies and children with weakened immune systems. He was informed of his rare blood type during his first donation at a drive hosted by the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
The holiday season is traditionally hard on the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross typically sees a decrease in blood donations through the end of the year. To help boost blood donations and ensure patients have access to lifesaving blood and platelets, autonomous driving technology company, Waymo, partnered with the Red Cross to host its second annual blood drive from November 4-10 in San Francisco. The company generously offered two free rides to Waymo riders and employees who donated blood or platelets at the Red Cross San Francisco Blood Donation Center located on Market Street.
Naomi Stamper (left) inspired her friend Linda Wulf (right) to become a regular blood donor. They said that one of the highest of levels of Jewish charity is when the donor doesn’t know the identity of the person who receives and the one who receives doesn’t know the identity of the donor. So, for these long-time friends, donating blood is pure, uncomplicated satisfaction. Photo courtesy of Naomi Stamper
When Naomi Stamper was about to turn 70 years young, her friends asked her what she wanted to do to celebrate. “I didn’t want to just go out to lunch with my lady friends,” she said. “I wanted to do something important.”
So, she asked her friends to give blood, with the goal of getting 70 donations. She arranged for her synagogue to do a 70th birthday blood drive for her friends, and the word spread to friends and family across the country. “We got over 70 donations at that time, and the donations kept on growing,” Naomi, who is now 83, said. “People kept going and donating blood for years, like my friend Linda.”
James and his wife Sue, at Livermore 1st St. Ale House watching Raiders on the big screen. Photo courtesy of James Ferguson
As thirteen-year-old James Ferguson sat in his hospital room with a life-threatening injury, he struggled to accept that his burgeoning football career was over. His dream of playing for the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders would never come true. He questioned what would come next and how he could fill football’s void. James soon knew that playing the guitar could fill part of that void, but it took him nearly 15 more years to answer more of that question.
When 27-year-old James Ferguson donated blood for the first time at a work-sponsored blood drive in 1983, he thought back to that moment in the hospital. “Giving blood made me realize those thoughts were very juvenile,” said James. It was at that blood drive that James realized donating blood could fill more of football’s void.
Today, James regularly donates blood and plasma through the American Red Cross. Since his first blood drive in 1983, James has donated nearly 30 gallons of blood. He donates through the Red Cross “whenever he can, whenever they call,” barring work, travel or other personal obligations. He describes the Red Cross as the “greatest community of people.”
For James, donating blood is a deeper act of service to other humans and a simple way of giving back to others in need. As James explains, “the basis of all this is my faith. There are things that we can do and things that we do and there are opportunities that we have to accept or we run away from. I love to do something for somebody that brightens their day. Their pleasure, their happiness makes me happy.”
James’ desire to help other people is not only unique to him. He is proud of the dedication of his whole family – which he also credits with filling football’s void – to helping others. His sister helps people every day as a nurse at a local hospital in Fremont. Other family members have even interacted with the Red Cross in the past, including his daughter, who is a medic in the Army National Guard, who helped with the emergency response to the 2018 Paradise Fire.
“Me with my grandkids and daughter. Left to Right: Owen, Madison, Daughter Sara, and me.” Photo courtesy of James Ferguson“Mom and Me… a weekend of playing Yahtzee!” Photo courtesy of James Ferguson“This is my band, my band. The Bylly James Band. I’m on left playing guitar.” Photo courtesy of James Ferguson
Music is also incredibly important to James and his family. He cites it as another major factor that helped him get through the injury. As James said, “Football ends, music never does.” He plays guitar in a classic rock/blues band in the Fremont area. One of his favorite parts of playing music is seeing the impact his music has on people’s faces.
James has found a way through the Red Cross Blood Donor app to replicate that same reaction when he gives blood. Although he cannot directly see the impact on someone’s face, James calls the app’s ability to show him where his blood was used, “powerful.” This is especially true when children receive his blood. “The app is important. It is a huge revelation. Deeper than anything. It hits home.” James says of the app’s impact.
James plans to give blood for as long as he can since it is both fulfilling and easy to do. “I am a five-minute blood donor,” he says. He also has words of encouragement for others who may be thinking about donating for the first time. “It takes half an hour to save somebody’s life. If you do these things, you will find joy that you never imagined,” he tells them.
Your Red Cross Update 