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A sudden aortic aneurysm nearly killed him. 150 units of donated blood saved his life. But Grant Lalonde still may have died if Kelowna General Hospital hadn't brought in additional blood from neighbouring cities. Lalonde has always been a blood donor, but now he and his loved ones are making it their mission to build an army of donors to make sure everyone has access to blood when they need it.
Lalonde and his wife Jodee have encouraged everyone they know to join them in giving blood, and even since Grant's medical emergency, they've managed to collect more units of blood than he used during his time of need. "Some of his friends, while he was unconscious, said 'What can we do?', remembered Jodee Lalonde, "and I said 'Go give blood' because he cleaned-out the blood bank." Gayle Voyer of Canadian Blood Services said the Lalondes' story helps personalize the serious need for blood donors, especially at this time of year. "I think it just helps to build awareness out in the community," said Voyer. "There's patients right here in Kelowna that need blood on a regular basis."
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