Mum who received 65 units of lifesaving blood products supports blood appeal

A mum, transfused with 65 units of blood products to save her life, has met the NHS staff who urgently sent blood to the hospital.

Adele Darlington needed blood, plasma, cryoprecipitate and platelets after suffering a massive bleed while giving birth a year ago, a few weeks before Christmas.

She was able to enjoy Christmas with new baby Jasmine and is now supporting the NHS appeal for Christmas and New Year blood donors.

Adele, 41, of Stockton Heath in Warrington, needed transfusions and emergency surgery including a hysterectomy to save her life.

She started bleeding during a planned caesarean section (C-section) for baby Jasmine, her fifth child – and fifth daughter. She had placenta previa, a condition where the placenta partly or completely blocks the cervix.

Adele had four hours of surgery during the C-section, then nine more hours of surgery, including a hysterectomy, partial cervix removal, tube and ovary removal and the removal of most of her bladder.

Adele lost 15 litres of blood. So, she received 28 units of red blood cells, 20 units of fresh frozen plasma, nine units of cryoprecipitate, and eight units of platelets.

To help Adele, and restock the hospital blood bank for other patients, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Liverpool Team sent nine emergency orders overnight. A huge team of nurses and doctors at Warrington Hospital – including four surgeons operating at once - worked tirelessly to save her life. It was the biggest transfusion at the hospital since 2000.

One year on, to thank staff and support the Christmas appeal for blood donors, Adele visited the Liverpool NHS Blood and Transplant regional centre, which sent most of the blood for her care.

Staff laid out the exact number of units of blood products she received to illustrate how much help she needed.

Adele said: “It’s been a really humbling experience to meet some of the people who sent blood when I had my transfusion, it’s been a really special day.

“It was unbelievable to see the same quantity of blood that I received laid out, knowing that it took so many people to save me. I'm forever indebted to the more than 65 people who gave me the gift of life.

“I never thought in a million years that this would happen to me. But trauma and the need for a lot of blood can happen to anyone at any time, including at Christmas.

“So I would urge anyone who is able to donate to please do so.”

Adele said of her transfusions: “The C-section went ahead at 9am. I vaguely remember Jasmine being born and then I passed out.

“By this point I'd already lost six litres of blood and it was thought that I'd stabilised. But in the recovery room it become evident that I was still internally bleeding so I was urgently rushed back into theatre. They told me I needed a hysterectomy to save my life.

“I had this sense of doom that I would not make it. My blood pressure and heart rate were at dangerous levels. I remember crying and saying ‘I think I'm dying’ and telling the theatre staff that I was scared to go to sleep because I didn’t think I would wake up.”

Her condition was so severe she developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a blood clotting problem in trauma patients.

“I was told it's a medical miracle that I'm still here,” said Adele.

“My husband was told to call in family to prepare to say goodbye. But thanks to everyone’s work I got to spend Christmas with my family and new daughter.”

She added: “I'm still on a road to recovery I am just forever grateful that I am here. I am very aware that I shouldn’t be. All of these amazing people worked together to save me.

“Blood donors might think it’s not a big thing to donate - they donate and they have a hot drink and a biscuit - but I can’t thank them enough. I will be eternally grateful to these selfless donors who took time to voluntary donate and ultimately save my life.”

Her husband Ian, who owns a media business, has signed up as a blood donor, along with many friends and family members. 

Julie Riley from NHSBT Liverpool Hospital Services, said: “I was on shift issuing the blood and meeting Adele was absolutely beautiful. We don’t normally get to meet anyone – we work in labs for eight hours a day. I am glad she got home for her little kiddies.”

Michael Kay, NHSBT blood delivery driver, said: “It was the end of my shift but I stayed on to do a blue light delivery and it’s just amazing to find out it went to Adele.”

Sharon Jones, Liverpool Blood Donor Centre Manager, said: “It’s been fantastic to see Adele’s happiness, knowing she managed to get back to her family. It is the result of all the cogs in the system working.”

Annabel Power, a Transfusion Lab Scientist from Warrington Hospital, said: “I was one of the people in the lab issuing the blood products and in contact with NHSBT to make sure we had enough. To put a face to a name is amazing.”

Chris Philips, NHSBT Head of Hospital Customer Service, said: “It was incredibly moving to see Adele visit our teams because that night is very clear in their memories – they won’t forget it any time soon. Our teams knew a patient was in trouble with a massive bleed. They urgently delivered blood for her.

“This is an amazing example of NHS teams working together but without donors none of this would have happened.

“Please help people like Adele by giving blood this Christmas and New Year.”

Ali Kennah, Chief Nurse at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals, said: “It makes me so proud to work here. The teamwork required to save a life was absolutely incredible.

“Adele was critically unwell. She experienced a massive obstetric haemorrhage of an estimated 15 litres.

“Even though it was an extremely stressful and at times very worrying situation, the atmosphere during the prolonged surgery was controlled and focused. Thankfully, there was a great outcome.”

England remains in Amber alert for low blood stocks. Christmas and New Years is always a challenging period, as donations drop.

Appointments are available at the 26 fixed donor centres. To register or book an appointment to give blood, visit our website, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.