On March 7, 2022, Westbrook is one of many churches participating in the Waconia Area Faith in Action Blood Drive. One thing you might not know is that one of our former members is coordinating this event. Alicia Northenscold works for Memorial Blood Centers, and she is coordinating this blood drive. Alicia worshipped at Westbrook for several years when she was living in the Chaska area.
One snowy morning in 2009, 27-year-old Alicia was driving to work when her car was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The impact compacted the dash of Alicia’s car, pinning her legs under the dash; she was trapped until help was able to get to the scene.
Alicia was transported to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, where she received 8 units of blood and had 12 surgeries over the next few months. The accident broke both of her femurs and her hip. Formerly a kickboxer and a runner, Alicia had to re-learn how to use her legs. She also broke her neck and sustained a traumatic brain injury, putting her in a coma for 17 days. It took her 5 years to learn to read again, and once she could, she went back to school to pursue a degree in neuropsychology. Alicia was told she would be unable to have children, but today she is a mother of two daughters. All thanks to generous blood donors, fast-acting first responders, and excellent care teams – not to mention Alicia’s positivity and bravery.
Alicia knows how vital donated blood was to her survival and recovery. “Donated blood saved my life, so I can help save more people’s lives and pay it forward.” She donates blood with Memorial Blood Centers regularly, adding that it’s “completely selfless giving – it doesn’t come out of our pockets, we can give and get it back.”
This year the blood drive is bringing awareness to two community needs. Our community continues to feel the effects of the pandemic, including the ongoing shortage of blood and the struggle for some to keep food on their tables. Memorial Blood Centers has partnered with our local food banks in March to help save lives and feed families in need. When you donate blood in March, The Memorial Blood Centers will donate to a local food bank on your behalf. Please find time in your busy schedule to give a little extra and schedule an appointment at this upcoming blood drive.
March 7
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 41 East 1st Street, Waconia, MN