Young Redlands Accident Victim Makes First Blood Donation

REDLANDS>> Redlands High School freshman Keely Proctor wasted little time in thanking LifeStream blood donors the best way she knew how. On Saturday, Nov. 19, four days after turning 15 – the minimum age at which one can donate blood – Proctor gave blood for the first time. She was cheered on by her father, Craig, a regular blood donor who donated alongside his daughter; her mom, Terri; and siblings Luke, 12; and Cami, 8. Proctor “beat” her dad since her unit of blood was collected quicker as the two engaged in a friendly competition at LifeStream’s San Bernardino Donor Center. The long-awaited occasion was provoked by near-tragedy 2,422 days prior. Keely, already an accomplished skier, was 8 years old the day before Easter 2010 and enjoying a day on the slopes with her family. Toward the end of the day, Keely was riding in a ski lift, as she had done countless times. But this time, Keely lost her balance. She fell 30 feet and landed on her stomach. Keely suffered internal bleeding and organ damage. Eventually, one kidney and part of her liver were removed. Twenty-one days of treatment at Loma Linda University Medical Center required five surgeries and 30 units of blood products. Keely and the Proctor family said they never forgot their heroes – LifeStream blood donors – whose generous deeds enabled emergency teams and surgeons to stabilize Keely and then perform emergency surgery. For several years since, Keely and her family have been advocates for blood donation. Keely said she never tires of relaying her story to blood donors, to whom she has a simple, heartfelt message: “Thank you for saving my life.” LifeStream provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals. For more information, call 800-879-4484 or visit LStream.org.