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Iliza Martinez-Mondschein of Bethlehem looks at her son, now 18 months, and sees two miracles. Frank “Frankie” Mondschein was born at St. Luke’s Anderson Campus on January 24, 2023, an IVF baby – and the first miracle. The second miracle was the blood transfusions Martinez-Mondschein received soon after giving birth that possibly saved her life.

Martinez-Mondschein had lost a lot of blood during delivery via C-section. The next day while she was recovering in her hospital room, she felt weak. “I couldn’t hold my son,” she recalls. Next thing she knew she passed out.

Bloodwork showed she had a dangerous iron deficiency and low platelet count. She needed a blood transfusion right away, and thanks to Miller-Keystone Blood Center, blood was immediately available.

Martinez-Mondschein was infused with a unit. She felt much better, but not totally recovered. The next day she was given a second unit of blood. It was what she needed to recover fully. “We were both doing fine after that,” she recalls.

Martinez-Mondschein had some symptoms of anemia when she was pregnant, but the need for a blood transfusion after her delivery was totally unexpected.

Martinez-Mondschein is ever so grateful to those who donate blood at Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC). “I am so grateful and blessed,” Martinez-Mondschein said. “What should be one of the best days of your life, turned out to be a little scary, but the nurses at St Lukes went into action with the help of MKBC.”

St. Luke’s, a founding member of Miller-Keystone over 50 years ago, continues its unwavering commitment as the only local health care network that identifies MKBC as its primary blood supplier. Without St. Luke’s steadfast support for MKBC, the Lehigh Valley could run out of the blood necessary to provide lifesaving care for patients, particularly during a regional or national blood shortage or another crisis.

MKBC has locations in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Reading, the Poconos, Pittston and Ewing, NJ, and holds blood drives at area businesses and other locations.

Martinez-Mondschein gladly tells her scary story so that it might encourage others to donate blood so the supply is there when someone else may need it. “I encourage the community to donate because you never know when you or your loved one will need a blood transfusion,” she said.