2023 Blood Drive for Life: How blood donations saved Northern California man’s life after motorcycle crash
KCRA 3’s Blood Drive for Life starts next week, and to encourage more people to donate, we’re introducing our viewers to people who depend on your generosity.
Dennis Sellers says that he wouldn’t have survived a motorcycle crash 36 years ago if it wasn’t for donated blood.
"If it hadn't been for that blood, my life would have ended at the age of 27," he said.
Sellers was riding home on his Harley Davidson when a car turned in front of him, and he struck it.
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He was rushed to the hospital, where he was stabilized and then flown to a trauma center with a crushed foot, knee and arm.
"So the night of the accident, they amputated my arm, and they spent hours on my knee — cleaning it up and trying to put my kneecap back together," he said.
After 11 surgeries and months spent in physical therapy, Sellers was finally ready to get back to his new normal.
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"I was back physically and mentally probably a year and a half, two years before I was back physically and mentally and then going to school,” he said. “Trying to get on track with the life that I have now."
He credits 12 units of donated blood with saving his life and is now a donor himself.
"It's an hour of my time that could save somebody's life or contribute to save somebody's life,” he said. “I mean, cost-benefit — it's not even a question."
KCRA 3 is teaming up with Vitalant for the annual Blood Drive for Life, which this year is taking place on Jan. 4-7 across two locations in Rocklin and Sacramento. Click here to make an appointment.