Since donating blood five years ago to a godson diagnosed with leukemia, and again a year later to a friend undergoing surgery, Dan Sandoval has donated blood on a regular basis. Says Dan, "It is an incredible feeling knowing that such a simple act as donating a pint of blood may save a life."

Dan's Story

Dan Sandoval knows that blood is life. Five years ago, his godson Brandon Broadhurst needed regular blood transfusions at Loma Linda University Medical Center to survive leukemia. “My godson survived what I thought was certain death and is alive and well because people cared enough to give blood,” Dan affirms.

A year later, one of Dan’s closest friends, Francien Cravens, was scheduled for surgery that would require a blood transfusion. He was able to donate a pint of blood for her.

“It was an unusual feeling knowing that my blood was running through her body and was helping to keep her alive,” Dan remarks. “She later thanked me for helping to save her life, but all I really did was donate an hour of my time to give blood.”

After these experiences, Dan began donating blood to the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and proudly wore his donor T-shirts to work as a concrete truck driver. About one year ago, while delivering a load of concrete to the Long Beach area, a man walked up to him and asked if he were a blood donor. Dan told him that he donates on a regular basis so that he can help others.

“Without warning, he gave me a bear hug so tight, I thought he was going to break me in half,” Dan remembers. “He said ‘thank you’ and I noticed he was crying. When I asked him why, he explained that his three-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with leukemia just weeks prior at Loma Linda University Medical Center and had received a blood transfusion to save her life. He took my hand, gave me a vigorous hand shake, looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘Thank you for saving my daughter’s life.’

“I began to cry as I told him the story of my godson who was diagnosed with the same terrible disease at the same hospital and how someone else’s blood donation saved his life too,” Dan continues. “I never actually realized the full impact of simply donating a pint of blood. I donated blood in the past merely hoping to help another, but I never imagined that my blood could actually save a life.

“I was very thankful that someone cared enough to donate blood so that it would be there when my godson needed it. Now, I was that person for someone else. From that moment, I vowed to donate as often as I could so someone else’s godson, friend, or daughter will have blood available to help save their life. It is an incredible feeling knowing that such a simple act as donating a pint of blood may save a life.”