SunCoast Blood Centers has over 75 years of experience in delivering precious life-saving products in our community, making them the go-to partner for blood-related healthcare services in Southwest Florida. From their Lakewood Ranch headquarters, SunCoast is able to stage their mobile units, house their administrative staff and share a wonderful teaching facility with the public. However, in order to continue their mission, SunCoast is always in need of donors and volunteers, both of which are so vital to the success of the organization. “There are a lot of opportunities here and we encourage all members of the community to get involved–students, teachers, retirees–we appreciate all of our volunteers,” says Joan Leonard, Community Liaison for the organization.

One person who knows firsthand the importance of a stable and readily available blood supply and the rewards of giving back is childhood leukemia survivor, Chaz Oyler, now currently studying to become a physician assistant. In August 2009, Oyler was diagnosed with Pre B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and underwent treatment at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Pete. Because of this, his white blood cell counts increased drastically, while bringing down the counts of the other blood components such as red blood cells and platelets. This meant that he would have to go through multiple blood transfusions in order to raise the number of red blood cells and platelets. Throughout his treatment he received eight platelet transfusions and 12 red blood cell transfusions. And since he had leukemia, this meant that he would never be able to donate blood himself.

”I have always been connected to SunCoast Blood Centers. My mom started as a med tech in the company when they ran their lab out of Sarasota Memorial Hospital and is now the lab director at the new location in Lakewood Ranch,” shares Oyler. “During middle school and throughout high school I volunteered there not only to get volunteer hours for college but also contribute to a cause that helps people who need the same blood products that I needed.” Oyler began working at SunCoast as an employee in the summer of 2022 in the contact center, and this past year became a medical historian there in order to gain patient care hours needed for PA school.

”SunCoast Blood Centers has helped me a lot throughout my life. Not only has it been a place that I volunteered at and now work at, but it also helped me make connections with so many people to help me along my journey to PA school,” says Oyler. “Joan Leonard actually wrote me a letter of recommendation for Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Pete where I was able to shadow the same PA that took care of me when I was in treatment. SunCoast has also provided me with a scholarship and multiple recommendation letters for other scholarships in order to help me financially through school.”

Oyler loves being able to help an organization that provides blood products to people that need them. “Everyone needs blood, and almost everyone has blood to share,” he says. “Anytime someone goes into surgery, or has a bad accident, chances are that they are going to need blood transfusions, which isn't possible without blood donors. I also get to meet new people every day that are willing to give their blood for the good of others. The eight platelets and 12 red blood cell units that I received during treatment did not just come from thin air, they came from people who wanted to save lives.”

As a donor or volunteer with SunCoast Blood Centers, you too can become part of the lifesaving connection that delivers blood products to local patients in need. You can take pride in knowing that your time is as vital as a blood donation, and you are contributing to your community in a very special way.

SunCoast Blood Center, 3025 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Suite 111, Bradenton, suncoastblood.org/.

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