Power Red blood donations benefitted teenager with Grant County ties
By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY – American Red Cross Pacific Northwest Accounts Manager Rebecca O’Rourke was recently on KJDY’s Coffee Time discussing the impact of Power Red blood donations, where red cells are taken from the blood. She said donations of red blood cells were crucial for 16-year-old Paige Wood, who has local ties, and was in a devastating car accident in Central Oregon:
“She’s doing well. She’s recovering. I think she has a long line of work to go, but her family jumped on and reached out because they saw how much blood she received in that emergency situation. I’m sure a lot of it was red cells, so, again, it’s that Power Red donor that helped her in that emergency situation…”
O’Rourke said Paige’s family reached out to the Red Cross and set up a virtual blood drive in Paige’s honor. So far, sixty-two people have signed up to give blood in Paige’s name over the next few months. Paige’s father, Jeremy, is a Grant County native and her grandmother Connie worked at KJDY in John Day for many years until her retirement.
Rebecca also said the American Red Cross John Day Community has doubled their ability to collect Power Red donations by gaining more equipment. She said at each drive, up to 20 Power Red donations can now be collected.
Listen to that full podcast with Rebecca O’Rourke below:
