The demand for blood is a constant reality. Our community blood supply is the key to meeting this need. When we donate and support a life-saving cause, we ensure that the demand is met locally. Stable blood types still require platelet donors.
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At MKBC, our mission is to save lives by partnering with our community to provide a continuous supply of blood products and services. Founded in 1971, we serve as a blood provider for 35 hospitals in eastern PA and western NJ.
Join us in our mission to save lives by choosing the way you can contribute best. Whether through volunteering, making a financial donation, or hosting a community event, your involvement is crucial for our continued success. Each action you take brings us closer to fulfilling our lifesaving goals.
Has a blood donation impacted your life? Share Your Story
Sofia Groves was diagnosed with Lupus her sophomore year of college. That led to serious health issues where she had to be hospitalized for 95 days. She was given a medication that unfortunately sparked an uncommon negative reaction within her body, causing her to have a stroke, leaving her in a coma for 2 weeks. In Sofia’s case, she needed platelets and plasma. Miller-Keystone Blood Center reached out to the community and with your help, Sofia received the vital platelets and plasma that she needed.“When you donate blood, you are quite literally saving a life. If people did not step up and donate blood, I would not be here today. Donating blood is the greatest gift you could possibly give anyone. Thank You.
Has a blood donation impacted your life? Share Your Story
Penny first met Jack in the 1970s, and her world shifted. It wasn’t just his smile or the way he carried himself, it was his eyes. Kind, gentle, and full of quiet strength. She would later say it was love at first sight. Those eyes, she said, held the promise of a lifetime of patience, compassion, and unwavering devotion.
During their marriage, Jack worked as a customer service manager at AAA, a role that fit him perfectly. He was the kind of man who never raised his voice, who listened deeply, and who made people feel seen. Penny, a nurse from New Jersey, knew what it meant to care for others and she saw in Jack a soul who did the same, every single day.
They built a beautiful life together.
When Jack was diagnosed with leukemia, their world shifted again. It was a cruel twist of fate, but Jack faced it with the same grace and courage that defined his life. He underwent chemotherapy, and for a short time, the treatments worked. Platelet and whole blood transfusions gave him strength.
But the second round of chemo didn’t help. His oncologist at St. Luke’s gently told them there was nothing more they could do. Jack had about ten months left. So they did what they always loved, they went on a cruise.
On the last night of that cruise, Jack bent down to tie his shoelace and hit his head. It caused a cerebral bleed. Doctors said he needed surgery, but only if his platelets could be raised to 50. Thanks to several transfusions of platelets, his levels got high enough for surgery.
What many people don’t realize is that it takes 30 to 60 minutes to infuse just one bag of platelets and Jack received transfusions continuously from mid-afternoon until about
10 am the next morning. That means an extraordinary number of donors came together to help save Jack’s life and give the Kelleher’s more time together.
Even though the surgery saved Jack’s life in that moment, the doctors were certain the brain bleed would return and that it would take him before the leukemia ever had the chance to.
It’s a heartbreaking story, one filled with love, loss, and the cruel unpredictability of illness. But even in the midst of sorrow, there’s a powerful, inspirational message.
Penny got three more weeks with her soulmate. Three weeks of holding his hand, whispering love, and cherishing every breath. She says it clearly: “It’s only because of blood donors that I got those weeks. They gave me time with the love of my life.”
Jack passed away at age 71. Later, Penny’s sister would also battle leukemia and need transfusions. Penny herself at one time was a platelet donor, but now she gives financially to Miller-Keystone Blood Center, her way of saying thank you for Jack, for those three precious weeks, for every donor who gave without knowing the lives they touched.
Even now, more than ten years since Jack’s passing, you can still see how much Penny misses him. Her voice softens when she speaks his name, her eyes glisten with memories. He was her soulmate and that kind of love never fades.
This story is a tribute to Jack’s kindness, to Penny’s enduring love, and to the quiet heroes who give blood. Because sometimes, a pint of blood isn’t just a donation, it’s a gift of time, of love, of life.
Has a blood donation impacted your life? Share Your Story
My son Logan was diagnosed with a rare Stage 4 pediatric cancer at only 15 months old. Until our own personal experience, we were oblivious to cancer, chemo, radiation and all that that went along with keeping him alive. One thing that DID keep him alive through our whole journey was all the donated blood products Logan so desperately needed. He needed blood so many times that I actually lost count. But what I never lost count of was the gratitude and relief I felt knowing it was there. It would pump his little body back up so he could continue to fight this nasty beast. It gave his body energy and the strength to keep going. Without those precious bags of blood and platelets, Logan would have certainly died. Now, because of all those generous donors and our team of doctors, Logan is a healthy and happy 6 year old little boy. I cannot Thank people enough to take that time out to donate which literally saves lives, including my son.
Has a blood donation impacted your life? Share Your Story
It was June of 2021 when our world changed drastically. And not for the better. Our 14-month-old son, Andrew (AKA Squishy), was suffering from a bad cold that he could not shake. Along with a stuffy nose and on and off fevers, he had become lethargic, had stopped eating and was drinking about 50% of his normal amount. Our primary care doctor sent us to the emergency room for fluids and monitoring, and after they ran some blood and bone marrow tests, we learned that he had cancer. A type called “AML” or acute myeloblastic leukemia. The prescribed treatment was about 5 months of aggressive chemotherapy on an in-patient basis.
As we adapted to our new life living in the pediatric unit of the Reilly Children’s Hospital at LVHN, Squishy was bombarded by powerful chemo drugs designed to kill off all the cancer cells. Unfortunately, these meds also destroyed most of his bone marrow and subsequently his immune system. He was extremely susceptible to infections during this time, and he did not produce his own hemoglobin or platelets.As I said, our lives changed drastically.
We have learned so much about cancer and the many groups and people who support cancer patients in the Lehigh Valley. We have grown so close to the nursing and oncology staff at LVHN, have met amazing parents, advocates and other cancer patients fighting this disease and become advocates ourselves for more research funding and charity for pediatric cancer. I have also become a serial donator of blood and platelets.I have always wanted to donate blood. I never had before, partially because I have a busy life as a father and a demanding job, but also because I was averse to being stuck with needles. The truth is you make time for the important things, and I am embarrassed to say that it was never important enough to me before. It definitely is now.
Squishy needed his first transfusion of red blood very quickly after diagnosis, and I made a promise to myself to go give blood. It felt great to make good on that promise, and the experience was really quite good. The phlebotomist had heard of Squishy and she gave me a huge hug and shed a few tears when I came in. The process was easy and quick, and the needle? It was nothing!
Especially compared to what my sweet and defenseless little baby was going through. Since then, I have given platelets several times and red blood again, as well. Every time I go, I feel so good about myself, knowing that I have given of myself and helped someone like Squishy potentially have a new lease on life. If you are here reading this and deciding whether or not to donate, please do it. There are many people who need blood products every day in the Lehigh Valley.
My sweet little Squishy has now needed 5 red blood transfusions and 4 platelet transfusions, and he honestly might not be here to fight cancer if others before me did not donate. I am beyond elated to say that Squishy is now in complete remission with a great prognosis for the next 5 years, and I have made a promise to myself to keep donating for the rest of my life.
Donate blood, make a difference, and save lives while contributing to the betterment of your community; where you choose to donate matters.
Blood donation eligibility varies based on age, health conditions, & recent activities; it's crucial to know the guidelines to ensure a safe donation.
Saving lives is as easy as rolling up your sleeve, but knowing what you’re getting into and how to make the most significant impact is essential.
If business or time constraints are too challenging for your organization to run an on-site bloodmobile drive, MKBC’s Adopt-A-Day program offers partnering organizations the flexibility of enabling employees, family and friends to host a blood drive at one of our Donor Centers and be recognized in the
Through our “Drops” campaign, local businesses can partner with MKBC to increase blood donations, recruit volunteers, and increase fundraising! What Are Drops? “Drops” is a communication and employee engagement program designed for organizations to engage and educate their employees on the importance of blood donation in our community. Miller-Keystone Blood Center will provide content for you to share with your employees monthly through your internal communication vehicles – whether through a newsletter, email distribution, social media, or digital
WHAT IS THE “THANK THE DONOR®” PROGRAM? “Thank the Donor®” (TtD) is a program that allows blood donors and transfusion recipients to connect anonymously, enabling the recipient to thank the donor for their lifesaving generosity via
Miller-Keystone Blood Center is dedicated to providing our employees with opportunities that promote not only the goals of our company but their own personal aspirations as well.
