A publication of the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter

Around the ValleyWinter 2014

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P2 Superstorm Sandy Update Available

P3 Blood Donors Support Boy for Six Years

P4 Red Cross Apps: 1 Year, 3 Million Downloads

Silicon Valley Teen Honored for Saving Mother’s Life

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when 18-year-old Lindsay Dolan shared her story at the 2013 Silicon Valley Chapter Community Heroes Breakfast.

It was a typical Sunday. Lindsay was hanging out with her neighbor, Kaylie Gonzalez, while her dad, Larry, was grilling in the backyard and her mother, Lori, was watching the 49ers game. Suddenly Lindsay heard her dad screaming frantically. She sprinted downstairs to find her mom unconscious on the couch. Lindsay screamed, “Mom, wake up!” several times to no response. While Larry called 911, Lindsay thought, “If I can do anything at this moment to help save my mother’s life, I need to do it now.”

Lindsay started to give rescue breaths while Kaylie alerted her brother, Joey Gonzales, who was studying to be an EMT to help take over giving CPR. It was seven long minutes until the paramedics arrived. Although 15 minutes had elapsed, the paramedics decided to continue CPR for one more minute. Finally, they got a pulse from Lori. Lori was in a coma. The doctors warned her family that even if she survived, she could suffer from serious brain damage. On the third day, Lori awoke. She was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, and received a pacemaker. Lori is now happy and healthy.

“I never take anything for granted anymore, and I thank The Lord every day for giving me a second chance at life,” said Lori. Lindsay credits her actions to the CPR program taught to her as a ninth grader at Fremont High School. Doctors told her it was the first three minutes of mouth-to-mouth that saved her mother from permanent injury.

“I have learned from this experience that anything can happen at any moment in life, and that you just have to be prepared for the worst,” Lindsay said. “Today, my mom and I are closer than we’ve ever been. She is my inspiration to keep fighting in life.”

Become a Volunteer The American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter is always looking for talented individuals to join our team. Below are a few ways you can get involved:

• Disaster Services Community Preparedness Volunteer: Give presentations focused on communities with Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese-speaking individuals to help individuals and their families prepare for emergencies and disasters.

• International Services Committee and Community Outreach Volunteer: Collaborate with the World Affairs Council to hold an International Humanitarian Law Seminar annually. Help plan events to raise awareness of international and humanitarian issues.

• Youth Mentor and Event Chaperone Volunteer: Provide support and supervision to youth volunteers during special events that they plan and attend. Events may include health fairs and presentations.

For more information, please email VolunteerSVC@redcross.org.

Lindsay Dolan with her parents, Lori and Larry Dolan.

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Letter From the Silicon Valley Board ChairmanDear Friends,

Pilar Furlong has accepted a position as the Director of Development with the Bill Wilson Center in Santa Clara. The Center is a great organization that has been serving at risk youth in Santa Clara County since 1973 by ensuring kids have access to the range of services they need to grow to be healthy and self-sufficient adults. Pilar will be overseeing their fundraising as well as their volunteer and marketing departments.

Pilar has been a dedicated and gifted leader throughout her career with the Red Cross. Pilar’s career with the Red Cross began in 1998. She has served as a fundraiser, as the executive director for the Palo Alto Area Chapter, and a fundraising volunteer for the Pacific Service Area.

She deployed on disaster relief assignments in New Mexico and Texas. Since July 2011, she held the position of Chief Operating Officer at the Silicon Valley Chapter where she oversaw the

fundraising, volunteer, and disaster response teams, ensuring that funding is readily available to implement preparedness and relief services throughout Santa Clara County.

Then in January 2013, she took on the Interim Chief Executive Officer position while juggling the responsibilities of the many open positions.

It has been an honor to work with her over much of the past ten years. Please join me in wishing Pilar the very best for this next step of her career.

Best Regards,

Lawrence B. Hebb Silicon Valley Board Chairman

Superstorm Sandy Report AvailableA one-year Superstorm Sandy report is now available. The report details the extraordinary measures taken by more than 17,000-trained American Red Cross disaster workers, including 71 members of the Silicon Valley Chapter.

The response included:

• Serving more than 17.5 million meals and snacks in a huge feeding operation.

• Handing out more than 7 million relief items such as cold weather items and clean-up supplies.

• Providing nearly 113,000 health services and emotional support contacts for people who have been living in very tough conditions.

• Providing 74,000 overall shelter stays.

The report and other information on the Red Cross Sandy relief and recovery efforts can be found at redcross.org/sandy-response.

American Red Cross volunteer Maireid Steina provides a blanket to Gaby Rautenstrauch at the Red Cross Distribution Center in Staten Island, New York, on November 4, 2012. Photo by Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

Why I Help: Chris Carlton

Chris Carlton

Chris Carlton has been an active board member at the Silicon Valley Chapter for the past five years, but few know that her Red Cross story began with her son Evan. In March 2009, 17-year-old Evan helped save the life of an elderly man who had collapsed at a train station. Evan, a CPR-certified lifeguard, worked with another man to perform chest compressions and rescue breaths until the paramedics arrived. The man was taken to the hospital with signs of heart failure.

“I don’t ever want either of you to be in a situation where you are not able to help someone,” Evan said to them. That sentence resonated with Chris and her husband, Jeff, to become CPR-certified.

Evan was honored as a lifesaving hero at the Silicon Valley Chapter Heroes Dinner, which prompted Chris to get involved with the Red Cross Chapter. She has been actively involved with the Prepare Silicon Valley Initiative, where she uses her 35 years of corporate experience to incorporate preparedness trainings into work environments.

Chris has been a board member with the Chapter since 2010 and is also a member of the American Red Cross’ Tiffany Circle, through which she donates at least $10,000 annually.

She says she enjoys being with a great group of women who are passionate about the mission of the Red Cross. She is one of eight women who will travel to London in February 2014 for an International Tiffany Circle Event sponsored by the British Red Cross. To learn more about our training programs and the Tiffany Circle go to redcross.org/siliconvalley.

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In 2006, San Ramon residents Alex and Carol Low were preparing to welcome a healthy baby boy into the world. But when baby Dillon was born, it was immediately apparent that there was a problem.

“We knew something was wrong when I asked, ‘where’s my baby?’” Carol said. “The doctors were silent at the time, but came over and showed him to me for about five seconds and then rushed him off.”

Tests revealed that Dillon was born with an exceedingly low level of hemoglobin. He was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan Anemia–a rare genetic disorder that prevented his bone marrow from producing red blood cells. A bone marrow transplant could potentially cure him, but Dillon would require monthly blood transfusions until a suitable donor could be found.

The American Red Cross in Northern California worked to identify and recruit a small group of blood donors to meet Dillon’s ongoing transfusion needs. These donors were encouraged to maintain their eligibility and be prepared to donate whenever needed–often with very little notice. And for the next six years, that is exactly what they did.

“It was very difficult as a parent to watch your child go to the hospital every three to four weeks,” said Carol, who accompanied Dillon on the daylong trips to receive the blood that would keep him well and vibrant. “But we were extremely grateful the blood was always available when he needed it.”

Finally, in May 2012, Dillon received the bone marrow transplant that cured him of the life-threatening blood disorder. Now, according to his doctor, Dillon is expected to live a normal life and “should be able to climb any mountain, swim in the Olympics, and run any marathon if he wants.”

“Since the transplant, [Dillon] has been doing very well,” Carol said. “Overall, he’s just a happy child–living life like any other 6-year-old.”

Over the course of his treatment, Dillon received approximately 80 transfusions–roughly six gallons of blood. The selfless dedication that the anonymous blood donors showed for Dillon has left a lasting impression on his parents.

“That blood was his lifeline,” said Alex, who has since become a blood donor with the hope of helping someone else’s family.

“We have a child who is still here–who is still alive–because of blood donations and the sacrifices the donors made for him,” Carol said.

Red Cross Blood Donors Support San Ramon Boy for Six Years

San Ramon residents Alex, Dillon, and Carol Low show a drawing Dillon made thanking Red Cross blood donors.

Blood Donations

The American Red Cross provides blood to nearly 30 hospitals in the greater-Bay Area—including Santa Clara Valley Regional Medical Center in San Jose and Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy. In order to meet the needs of patients in those hospitals, the Red Cross must collect approximately 1,800pintsofbloodandplateletseachweek.TheRedCrossoperatesfiveblooddonationcenters(Oakland,PleasantHill,Pleasanton,Newark,andSan Jose) and stages regular mobile blood drives throughout the Bay Area—from Contra Costa County to Monterey County.

The need for blood is constant; and the Red Cross relies on the generous support of volunteer donors and blood drive sponsors in order to carry out its lifesaving mission. For more information about donating blood or becoming a blood drive sponsor, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)orvisitredcrossblood.org.

“We have a child who is still here–who is still alive–because of blood donations and the sacrifices the donors made for him.” — Carol Low

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The Red Cross has developed a suite of seven mobile apps that allow users to access critical information on what to do before, during, and after disasters and emergencies.

The free Red Cross apps, listed below, are available at the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android. Search for American Red Cross or go to redcross.org/mobileapps.

First AidView step-by-step first aid instruction, and learn safety and preparedness tips for severe weather and other emergencies.

Shelter FinderFind Red Cross shelters on an easy-to-use map interface.

EarthquakeLearn what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Receive alerts and notifications when an earthquake occurs, find help, and let others know you are safe—even if the power is out.

WildfireAccess information on what to do before, during, and after wildfires —even without mobile connectivity. Get the latest news from local, state, and federal fire agencies in the “Wildfire News” section.

Hurricane Get real-time hurricane safety information, weather alerts, and information about Red Cross shelters.

TornadoReceive real-time tornado warning alerts such as a high-pitched siren that signals when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issues a tornado warning.

Team Red CrossSign up to volunteer with the Red Cross, get an overview on basic tasks, and receive notifications about local Red Cross disaster volunteer opportunities.

Red Cross Apps: 1 Year, 3 Million Downloads

The Philippines, a nation of more than 7,000 islands, faces enormous devastation in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan that produced record strength winds along with high storm surges this past November. Approximately 10 million people across 40 provinces were affected, with as many as 4 million people displaced. Aside from displacement, the internet and power are down, making it difficult, and sometimes impossible, for family members to communicate.

The Restoring Family Links service of the American Red Cross helps people in the United States reconnect with their loved ones in other countries after they lose touch because of war, migration, or disasters. This free service, made possible by voluntary services and financial support of the American public, is actively helping members of our own community to get back in touch with their family members in the Philippines.

Red Cross workers in the Gateway to the Golden State Region have opened 33 cases to help re-establish communications for residents with their loved ones in the Philippines. About 80 percent of the families who contacted the Bay Area, Monterey Bay Area, Silicon Valley, or Santa Cruz County Chapters have successfully been able to re-establish contact, either on their own, or through help from the Red Cross or other agencies.

Visit redcross.org/siliconvalley to learn more about the Restoring Family Links Program. Visit redcross.org to learn more about the Super Typhoon Haiyan Response.

Local Red Cross Workers Helping Reconnect Filipino Families

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Make this year the year you make or revise your will or living trust. Completing or updating your estate plan is a key part of preparedness, ensuring that your loved ones and those causes important to you are provided for after you are gone.

Many loyal Red Cross donors feel that the Red Cross is an important part of their extended “family”—that special group of people and programs that have enriched and given meaning to their lives, while providing vital services to our community. If you are one of these people, please consider making a bequest to the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter in your will or living trust. All bequests, large or small, have a very real positive impact on our future.

If you need more information please contact Sam Leask, Senior Gift Planning Officer, at Sam.Leask@redcross.org or call him at (408) 577-2123, for assistance in including the Red Cross in your estate plan. You can find more information on legacy giving at redcrosslegacy.org.

Create a Legacy of Compassion