There’s a special kind of excitement that comes with the arrival of a new baby, the anticipation, the joy, the overwhelming sense that everything is about to change in the best possible way. The first glimpse of that tiny face, the softness of new-born skin, that unmistakable baby smell, and the quiet wonder of holding a brand-new life in your arms.
For Michelle Carelse and her family, the birth of her daughter was meant to be exactly that, a beautiful beginning. But in a matter of moments, that beautiful beginning almost turned into a horror.
Shortly after giving birth Michelle began feeling dizzy and weak. At one point, she nearly fainted in the bathroom. A nurse quickly noticed how pale she was and realised something was wrong. Michelle had lost a significant amount of blood and urgently needed a transfusion.
Over the next two days in hospital, Michelle received two units of blood an intervention that would ultimately stabilise her condition and allow her to recover. For her husband, Shandre Carelse, it was a moment he will never forget. “Seeing her like that was scary. She was so weak, and I didn’t know what was going to happen. But after she received the blood, she started feeling much better. When she was discharged, I felt such relief knowing she was okay.”
That moment was a turning point for Mr Carelse, he made a commitment to become a blood donor and help others the same way Michelle was helped. When people ask questions, particularly about fear or discomfort, he speaks from experience, not theory. “It’s not something to be afraid of. The process takes about 30 minutes, and you are doing something remarkable. You are helping to save someone’s life.”
Michelle’s story is a powerful reminder that the need for blood doesn’t come with warning. It can happen in what should be life’s happiest moments, and when it does, the availability of safe blood is what changes outcomes.
Because of donated blood, Michelle was able to recover and return home to her newborn daughter who is now 10 years old, turning 11 in September.
