Thousands of families across NI are celebrating another Christmas this year thanks to the lifesaving kindness of strangers who have donated blood or platelets.
Donors include 'the extraordinary' Colin Fell, with the 82-year-old recently giving his 660th donation at the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service at Belfast City Hospital.
A longstanding platelet donor, Colin first began donating blood in 1962 as a young man aged 19.
READ MORE: How three inspirational NI women found friendship after life-changing illness
READ MORE: NI mum on meeting her newborn son after 10 days in coma
He laughed: "I worked in C&C in East Belfast [at the time]. The girls working there were all blood donors. I quite liked one of them, so to impress her, I decided to go give blood."
A statement added: "Upon making his first donation, Colin learned how his blood would be used to treat people in all sorts of emergencies; it can help people going through surgery, illnesses, cancer and childbirth. His eyes were opened to how so much good can come from one small act of giving blood.
"Colin also learned that his donations are specifically used to treat babies. Every blood and platelet donation saves up to 3 lives, meaning Colin has saved as many as 1,980 babies’ lives. A truly staggering achievement!"
When told his generosity has saved enough little lives to fill roughly 7 primary schools, 'the humble hero' said: "Think about those who need it, what it means to them and their families. What if it was your wee one that needed it?"
Little 3-year-old Aria Stevenson from Derry has received 5 blood transfusions and 6 platelet transfusions, meaning up to 11 people have helped her fight Accute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a blood cancer.
Aria’s mum, Gillian, recalled the "miraculous" and "massive difference" blood and platelet transfusions made to Aria, especially when she underwent intensive chemotherapy last Christmas. Gillian said: "Around this time last year, she was starting her really intensive chemo. She was getting platelet transfusions every 2 or 3 weeks because the chemo was just eating her platelets up.
"Without the blood and platelet transfusions, Aria wouldn’t be here with us today. That’s what was keeping her alive. Without those, she wouldn’t have been able to get through the intensive chemo."
This year, the Stevenson’s are happily celebrating Christmas, aiming for Aria’s treatment to complete in January 2026. Aria’s mother, expressed her gratitude to the kind strangers whose lifesaving blood and platelet donations have helped in Aria’s health journey.
She said: "We see the importance of blood and platelet transfusions in Aria and all her wee friends [in hospital]. Without the kindness of people taking the time to donate, Aria and a lot of people wouldn’t be here, so we are just so grateful to them. Thank you."
Northern Ireland needs 1,200 blood donors every week. That’s roughly 1 every 8 minutes.
The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service is encouraging people to become a blood or platelet donor this year.
With over 6 decades of experience as a donor, Colin Fell supports the call. He said: "Do it. Do it. I was nervous before my first donation, but there is nothing to it. Think of those people who need it. The staff are great and very friendly too."
Barbara Mullin, Head of Supply Chain and Testing Services at the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service said: "On behalf of all our staff and volunteers, we wish to say a huge thank you to the Stevenson family for sharing little Aria’s story and for their support for blood and platelet donation. We all wish Aria well in her continued health journey.
"We also wish to say a huge thank you to Colin Fell for his remarkable generosity and dedication to blood and platelet donation.
"We encourage people across Northern Ireland to make their best ever New Year’s Resolution: become a lifesaving blood or platelet donor at your local donation session this Christmas or January. Your donation will save 3 lives.
"Please reach out to us on social media, search ‘Give Blood NI’ or visit www.nibts.org today."
Be is your home for all things lifestyle - from health and beauty, to work life and parenting, careers and cooking to fashion and features, and everything in between.
So to make sure you don't miss out on the things that matter to you, we've created a brand-new newsletter pulling the best of Be's content together twice a week.
To sign up, simply enter your email address here and we'll do the rest.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our Be lifestyle newsletter for all the latest showbiz, fashion, beauty, family features and more.
English (United States) ·