The Blood Matters Blog ·

She Says Her Near-Death Experience Saved Her Life — Now She's Paying It Forward

Denise Dickerson learned the importance of blood donation after donors saved her own life following a horrific car accident.

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Trauma survivor and blood recipient Denise Dickerson

Denise Dickerson was critically injured in December 2011 after she was hit by a car while helping a stranded motorist.

She survived but was left with some injuries too difficult to heal from, resulting in the amputation of her left leg.

Denise spent 11 days in a drug-induced coma but woke up with a vivid memory: a clear vision of her 15-year-old son Kody, who was killed in a car accident just two years earlier.

"He said, 'Mom, I love it here and I'm so happy, but you can't come right now because Kyle needs you,'" Denise said. "And that was my older son that was 22 at the time. His peace was just unexplainable... It was just a gift that was given to me. Yes, had that not happened, I don't think I would be here today because I don't think I would have gotten through that grief in the right way."

Denise now uses her second chance at life to help others. She spends her free time mentoring other amputees and being a regular blood donor for Our Blood Institute.

“If it hadn’t been for those donors, I wouldn’t be here," Denise said. "Blood is the only thing that cannot be replicated.”

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Moved by Denise's Story?

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