“We need two units of blood – stat!"

By Mary Brant

In 1999, Dr. Dora Anne Mills was an active, healthy woman holding down the demanding position of Maine state health officer and director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention when she learned firsthand the importance of having blood on the shelves when needed.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills donating blood recently in Portland

In addition to working full time, Dora – whose sister is Maine Gov. Janet Mills – was excited about the approaching birth of her first child. Physically, she was feeling well and had no reason to be concerned. On the delivery day, she and her then-husband, Michael Fiori, headed to their local hospital where friends and family were excitedly awaiting them to celebrate the birth of the newest addition to their family.

Dora was about to deliver when a rare complication led to sudden profuse bleeding. The last words she remembered before losing consciousness were from her doctor saying,“We need two units of blood  –  stat!" 

She was only unconscious for a short time and her husband told her later that the amount of blood lost in a very short amount of time was frightening.

Dora was fortunate. When she needed blood it was available, and what could have been a tragic turn was averted. She remembers to this day the Red Cross advertisements saying that you never know who might be saved by your blood donation.

Her son Anthony, born that long-ago day, is now a 21-year-old AmeriCorps volunteer who recently made his first blood donation alongside his mother and younger sister, 18-year-old Julia.

Twenty-one years after Dora received a blood donation while delivering Anthony, he and Julia gave blood for the first time along with their mother.

“I think of that lifesaving blood donation I received many years ago as a twofer that saved both me and my newborn son,” says Dora. “To donate blood alongside him and his sister was a very special moment, and I was very aware of all the generous blood donors who made it possible. I will be forever grateful to them for making time to share their good health with patients in need, patients just like me.” 

Celebrating three successful donations!