Oct 29: The day Kendra Ritchie became a mother was far from the fairytale she imagined.
She thinks of the blood transfusions she received that day as the reason she is here for her daughter, Ripleigh, 6, and now also her son, Rushton, 2. Ritchie, director of recruitment for the College of Business at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has tried to turn her gratitude into activism.
Ritchie’s experience motivated her to become a passionate advocate for blood donation. Sharing her story with students and others has become her way of making an impact in keeping blood banks with sufficient supply to help those with health crises. Participants in the We Give Blood drive, an initiative of Abbott and the Big Ten Conference, can log donations until Dec. 4.
“My hope is by UNL personnel telling their stories more, we can get more young people invested in this type of a cause,” she said.
Shortly after her first child’s birth, Ritchie collapsed and ultimately lost consciousness. Her hemoglobin had dropped dramatically, and over the next seven hours, she needed three blood transfusions.
“I don’t remember a ton after that,” she said. “It was touch and go for several hours. I do remember lots of poking and prodding. I remember having full body tremors.”
Over the next several days, hospital staff would stop by her room to check on her because they had heard the seriousness of what she had been through. Medical staff compared the amount of blood Ritchie received to somebody who had been in a serious car accident.
“If it weren’t for the fact I had these transfusions, I would not be alive at that point,” she said. “There were staff members from across the hospital that came in just to say, ‘You’re so lucky to be alive.’”
Ritchie later had a strong desire to return the favor to the donors who saved her. She has since been diagnosed with severe anemia so is unable to donate herself, but she’s begun sharing her story to encourage others to do so.
At first, Ritchie didn’t talk much about her experience, but she began to realize how common birth complications like hers are and how important it could be to use her voice to impact others.
“When you’re going through health issues that require some additional support, when you receive that support, it’s life-changing,” Ritchie said. “It feels like such a little thing to the donor, but it makes such a big deal to the recipient on the other end.”
In her daily life and job at the university, Ritchie sometimes talks to students about opportunities to donate blood, how they can get involved and why it is important to do so. She started at the university in 2016 and joined the College of Business in 2019. Students are sometimes intimidated by donating, but she tries to make it less scary, whether it’s explaining what is involved or connecting them with others who have given in the past.
“I get to work in a position I love so dearly,” Ritchie said. “I get to see the young, brilliant minds come to Nebraska and I get to watch them develop over their four years here … It sounds a little bit daunting, but I try to explain to them that it’s a simple process. You can literally stop by opportunities on campus all the time. You’re not even necessarily having to leave campus. I don’t think they realize how simple this act is and how much of an impact it can make in the long run.”
Her history also makes Ritchie more understanding of students and others who might be going through a hard time, whether it’s their own health struggles or other challenges. It’s a daily reminder that everyone is fighting something and might be in need of understanding and empathy.
“I recognize how scary it can be in that moment,” she said. “If other people are going through some trials, it’s my duty to support them and provide them as much sympathy and empathy as one possibly can. There are more students on this campus than we realize who are going through health issues or have family members who are going through health issues. By being more open and sharing my story, I hope they feel they can be more comfortable to share some of those concerns.”
More than anything, the experience made Ritchie value her time with her family. Her two children love visiting campus, going to Husker sporting events and spending time outside. Ritchie loves watching them discover the world.
“When I was struggling to get pregnant, there were times I never thought I would actually be able to be a mom, and then realizing how close I was to never fully having that opportunity is something I sometimes struggle with,” she said. “As a result of that, I really try to prioritize my kids. … I know how fortunate I am to have this time with them after what I experienced. We’re having the time of our lives right now. It’s so fun as a parent getting to see life through their eyes.”