An Inside Look Into The OneBlood Team

The Big Red Bus. You see them throughout your cities and several states. Inside those doors are donors giving the gift of life, while OneBlood team members are making sure their donors experience is flawless.

“I am passionate about my job,” said Vivienne, a longtime team member of OneBlood. Vivienne joined the OneBlood team 14 years ago.

Vivienne explains, “I love what I do. I save lives every day, and it is very important to me.”

Carlos Leal took his position at OneBlood after moving from Venezuela two years ago.

“We have a purpose here, we are saving lives. I am so blessed to be the team leader for the phlebotomist group in the St. Pete mobile area,” Carlos says.

Carlos and Vivienne are only two among the thousands at OneBlood who are dedicated to saving lives.

As the country recognizes National Blood Collector Week during the first week of September, we wanted to recognize our Mission Heroes - especially during a time where the nation needs them the most.

“We have a tremendous responsibility during this crisis,” Carlos states. 

Carlos and Vivienne say “especially with the need for convalescent plasma.” 

A few months ago, Vivienne completed the training on the convalescent plasma donation process. We were there as she took her first convalescent plasma donation from a recovered Covid-19 patient!

Knowing this antibody rich plasma is now helping a patient still fighting the virus reinforces Vivienne’s mission of saving lives.

“After 14 years here I do not see myself leaving,” she declares.

Carlos can’t imagine another job either, but he does want to point out that “the true heroes are the donors…we are here for you and we are grateful to you and donating blood because we really need it.”