Adele Darlington who needed 65 units of blood products after giving birth to baby Jasmine last November meets NHS team and some of the blood donors who saved her
A “miracle” new mum who survived childbirth despite haemorrhaging 15 litres of blood has joined an appeal for people to make a lifesaving donation before Christmas.
Adele Darlington needed 65 units of blood, plasma and platelets to save her life after giving birth to baby Jasmine last November. The 41-year-old from Stockton Heath in Warrington needed transfusions and emergency surgery including a hysterectomy following a C-section. She had developed a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a blood clotting problem which is such a bad sign it is informally referred to as ‘Death is Coming’.
Adele is now telling her story as part of an urgent NHS appeal as it has just four weeks to build the blood stocks needed to get it through Christmas and into the New Year. She said: “I was told it’s a medical miracle that I’m still here. 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.”
The new appeal comes after the Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. The NHS remains on Amber Alert for low blood stocks. One donation can save up to three lives.
Describing her ordeal, Adele said: “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 became 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.”
Adele had placenta previa, a condition where the placenta partly or completely blocks the cervix. She underwent four hours of surgery during the C-section at Warrington Hospital then nine more hours of surgery involving four surgeons, including a hysterectomy, partial cervix removal, tube and ovary removal and the removal of most of her bladder.
The mother-of-five 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.”
One year on Adele visited the Liverpool NHS Blood and Transplant regional centre, which sent most of the blood for her care to thank staff. 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.”
Medics laid out the exact number of units of blood products she received and she had the chance to meet some of the people who gave lifesaving donations. Adele said: “It’s been a really humbling experience to meet some of the people who sent blood when I had my transfusion. 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.”
The Christmas period is particularly busy so people are less likely to find the time to donate. The problem is that the period is also particularly busy for hospitals which need more lifesaving blood. Adele added: “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.”
During Christmas week last year demand for the vital O negative blood type – the universal type used to save lives in emergencies – exceeded collections by 300 units. Last December the NHS collected about 108,000 donations – 10% below the monthly average.
Chris Philips, NHSBT’s head of hospital 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.”
Appointments are now available at the 26 fixed donor centres and NHSBT says donor centres in towns and cities are now most likely to have the unfilled appointments up until the new year. To register or book an appointment visit blood.co.uk, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 2323.
