By Stephanie DeJoseph

Nine years ago this June, Diana Pelletier of Camillus was in a serious car accident. She was driving her husband, 22-month-old toddler and 3 1/2-week-old infant when the car crashed, flipping over three times.

Her family was fine, but Pelletier was seriously hurt. She broke her neck and lost a lot of blood.

Four weeks in the intensive care unit at Upstate University Hospital, followed by five months in the hospital and a lengthy recovery gave Pelletier time to think about the importance of donating blood. The accident left her in a wheelchair and unable to drive for three years. She still comes to Upstate for physical and occupational therapy. And, now she is a regular at Upstate‘s blood drives, where she donates a maximum four times a year.

“I wouldn‘t be here today if it weren‘t for the generosity of others," she says. "Blood donation is the renewable resource that takes so little time and gives so much to others.”

The hospital‘s spring blood drive will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 21 and  from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday April 22, in Café 750 on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital‘s Downtown Campus. To schedule an appointment, contact Linda Underwood at [email protected] or 464-6755.