Diana Pelletier of Camillus was critically injured in a car crash nine years ago. She was driving her husband, 22-month-old toddler and 3¼-week-old infant when the car wrecked, flipping over three times.

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

After four weeks in intensive care, Pelletier spent five months at Upstate University Hospital. She was in a wheelchair and unable to drive for three years. She still receives physical and occupational therapy at Upstate. Pelletier‘s lengthy recovery gave her time to ponder the importance of donating blood. Today she‘s a regular donor at Upstate‘s blood drives.

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

Find a blood drive near you by visiting the American Red Cross website  and typing in your ZIP code.

This article appears in the summer 2016 issue of Upstate Health magazine