"I'm giving back."

Anna Beth Lester is lucky to be alive. In July 2000, she was severely injured in an auto accident and lost both of her legs. She needed 108 units of lifesaving blood during those first critical days in the hospital. Thankfully, blood was on the hospital shelves; the week before her accident, supplies were less than optimal.

“I never really thought about it before, but having blood available for people in emergency situations is crucial,” Anna Beth says. Today, Anna Beth has recovered from her multiple injuries and is close to earning her Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology. She’s also a blood donor. “It’s my way of giving back and helping others who will be faced with a tragedy of their own.”