Colleague's Memory Inspires Employees for Blood Drive

“Your blood or marrow could save the life of a loved one, your neighbor or your friend.”

This was Elisa Escandon’s main message at the launching of the County’s bone marrow registry campaign almost two years ago.

Unfortunately, Elisa lost her battle with cancer last year. However, her co-workers at the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) are convinced she would be thrilled if a blood or bone marrow match could be found for someone else.

The month-long County Blood Drive kicks off April 1. All employees are encouraged to donate blood and, if they qualify, to register to be a bone marrow donor at Be The Match. Donating blood and bone marrow is safe, costs nothing and could save a life. Bloodmobiles will be at 14 sites across the county throughout April.

“The annual County Blood Drive is one of the San Diego Blood Bank's largest and most successful collection events,” said County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Horn. “Your donation has the power to touch many lives.”

Last year, County employees donated more than 250 pints of blood helping countless people in need of a transfusion.

“The response from County employees has always been amazing, but we can do even better. There are 17,000 of us. Imagine the impact we could have,” said Supervisor Greg Cox, a lifelong donor. “Donating blood is easy. I’ve given more than 23 gallons over the years and will be giving blood again next month.”

The San Diego Blood Bank must collect 400 pints of blood every day. Although 80 percent of us will receive a blood transfusion during our lives, only 5 percent of the U.S. population donates blood.

If you can donate blood, do it. If you can’t, try to get a family member or friend to take your place. All blood types are needed. Donors can make an appointment online or walk in to make a donation.

Be the perfect match

In August of 2013, Supervisors Horn and Cox launched the County’s campaign to also get employees to register to be bone marrow donors and try to find a match that might save Elisa’s life.

“Elisa is the reason why we did the bone marrow registry. She needed a match,” said Gloria Estolano, chief of DEH’s Food and Housing Division.

When Estolano began searching how the County could do its own bone marrow registry campaign, she came across Juan Olmeda. The Health and Human Services Agency employee has organized the County Blood Drive for several years and was himself the recipient of several blood transfusions as well as a bone marrow transplant after he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Juan was instrumental in getting the process started, and reaching out to Be The Match. With a lot of help and the support of County leadership, Estolano and Olmeda worked to bring the bone marrow registry to the County.  

“She was one of ours. She was a dear friend to everybody. She was an amazing person,” Estolano said. “The County’s Bone Marrow registry is Elisa’s legacy.”

Since the campaign began, dozens of County employees have registered at Be The Match and many more are expected to join during the month-long push. Registering for Be the Match is easy and pain free. All you have to do is swab the inside of your cheek and you can do it at one of the 14 blood donation sites. The Sheriff's Department will have two additional bone marrow drives on April 6 and 8 from 3–6 p.m. The drives will take place in the Media Room at the Sheriff's Communications Center, 5580 Overland Avenue, in Kearny Mesa.

Be The Match is especially looking for donors in the 18-44 age group because doctors request them over 90 percent of the time. This is because medical research has shown that cells from younger donors lead to better long-term survival for patients after a transplant. Registration is completely free.

People between the ages of 45 and 60 can also join the Be The Match Registry, but will be required to make a $100 payment at the end of the online process.

Be The Match is also looking for members of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds because patients are most likely to match someone who shares their ancestry.

Estolano hopes that County employees will donate blood or bone marrow to honor Elisa’s memory and help save someone’s life. 

“Elisa really wanted for the County to be able to do something,” Estolano said. “She used to tell us: ‘Even if we don’t find a donor for me, maybe we can find a donor for someone else.’”