I am an entrepreneur and event planner, and I am also mama to a little boy named Henry.
Henry was born on Valentine's Day of 2021 with Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT), a rare blood related condition that can put newborns in immediate danger. NAIT can occur when a mother and baby have platelet types that do not match. The mother’s immune system can react to the baby’s platelets, which can cause the baby’s platelet count to drop to a dangerously low level. When platelets are critically low, the risk of serious bleeding, including bleeding in the brain, becomes life threatening. For more information on NAIT, I recommend reading this article, What it's like when your baby has a rare blood disorder.
Learning Henry had NAIT was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. He was in critical condition and needed multiple transfusions in his first days to save his life.
Today, Henry is a happy, healthy, silly little boy. He loves playing outside, playing board games and anything dinosaurs. He approaches the world with wonder, and he has made me a better business owner, boss, and person. He is also here because strangers showed up somewhere in their own communities and donated.
That experience changed me, and it shaped the heart behind why we do this work.
Blood is needed every day for real people in real situations. It supports emergency trauma care. It supports surgeries. It supports cancer treatment. It supports mothers experiencing complications. It supports babies and children who need specialized care. Most of us do not imagine we will ever need blood products until we do.
Our family did.
At J. Leigh Events, we believe meaningful impact can be planned with the same intention, organization, and hospitality as any other event. Hosting a blood drive is one of the clearest ways a business or organization can show up for the people around them. It gives employees, customers, members, and neighbors an immediate action they can take that truly helps someone else survive.
We plan blood drives because they create community. They create purpose. They create a measurable result. They also create a moment that reminds people how connected we all are.
Each year, J. Leigh Events hosts You Are Somebody’s Type, a community blood drive in partnership with our clients. It is an honor to plan, and we are deeply grateful to every person who donates. Speaking from personal experience, you truly never know how big your impact can be.
In the Charlotte area? We are hosting our next You are Somebody's Type Blood Drive on Friday, February 13 at Promenade.
If your organization wants to create a meaningful community impact moment, we would love to help you plan a blood drive that fits your space, your audience, and your goals.
Email us at hello@j-leigh.com! We look forward to hosting a Blood Drive at your property.
