Bessie Calabria has lived her entire life with thalassemia, a rare inherited blood disorder that
requires her to receive monthly blood transfusions. Over the years, she has depended on more
than 2,000 blood donations, and each transfusion remains deeply meaningful to her. Seeing the
bags of blood prepared for her care is a powerful reminder of the generosity behind them. “That
means four people have gone and donated blood, and it’s there and ready for me,” she says. “I
never take that for granted.”
Although Bessie never meets her donors, she feels a strong connection to them through small
details like the donation dates printed on the blood bags. During the COVID-19 pandemic, those
dates reflected donors who showed up despite fear and uncertainty. Other times, they revealed
touching coincidences, like blood donated on her birthday or on Valentine’s Day. “How sweet is
is it that four people took time on a day like that, to give love in a different way?” she reflects.
Because Bessie has O-negative blood, she depends on a limited donor pool and requires
specially matched blood to avoid dangerous immune reactions. Her story highlights the
importance of a diverse donor base, especially for patients with conditions like thalassemia who
receive transfusions throughout their lives. Today, her transfusion appointments at Toronto
General Hospital are also a source of connection and community. “There are six of us that are in
on a regular basis together,” Bessie shares. “We commiserate. We laugh, we joke, we help
each other.”
Thanks to blood donors, Bessie has been able to live a full and active life beyond the clinic.
Their generosity supported her through healthy pregnancies, allowed her to build a career in
financial services, volunteer extensively with the Thalassemia Foundation of Canada, and care
for her aging father. “All the things I was told I wasn’t going to be able to do… all of that is
afforded to me because of blood donors,” she says. In gratitude, her husband Sal now donates
blood himself, adding simply,
“A small gesture can help save a life.”
For the full story visit Canadian Blood Services Stories