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14th June 2023
01:00am BST

"After a relatively straight forward pregnancy, I unfortunately suffered acute complications during the delivery which included a massive postpartum haemorrhage through which I lost just under 4 litres (approx 80%) of my blood," Emma tells Her.
"Immediately after Charlie's birth – without even seeing him or holding him – I was taken to theatre for four hours of emergency surgery to treat the injuries I sustained. This was quite a traumatic experience as I was conscious for this surgery. As the medical team battled to stem the bleeding I was aware of them talking about the loss of blood and the urgent need for more blood. I recall vividly them saying that blood was being couriered from Dublin and realising how serious this situation was and just hoping it got to me in time. Thankfully they did and I received an initial life saving blood transfusion and several others through the course of my recovery."
Today, Charlie is a happy and healthy 11-year-old boy – and a big brother to Victoria-Rose – and Emma and her family are forever grateful to the blood donors who saved her life. Her husband Robert is now a regular blood donor.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to every single blood donor in the country," she says. "There is no doubt that without these blood transfusions, I simply would not have survived. I have been privileged to speak at several awards dinners and events for blood donors and I am always so humbled when I meet donors for their incredible dedication and selflessness in donating blood on a regular basis. They are heroes in the truest sense of the word. I think of my donors regularly and hope they understand the value of their donations, how they can change lives and save lives."
Charlie himself wanted to add a message to encourage people to become regular blood donors.
He said: "I would like to encourage blood donors because without them I may not have my Mom here today and I would like to thank all the people who donated blood to her. I love her so much, she is the best Mom in the world!"
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