UNTIL his sister was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, Port Adelaide utility Paul Stewart was like almost 97 per cent of Australians – he didn't donate blood.
Lisa Stewart found out in September 2013 that she had the rare but dangerous bone marrow disease, which stops the marrow from producing enough new cells, and endured between 40 to 50 blood transfusions while she battled the disease at its fiercest.
Lisa is now in remission and has urged people to donate and become the "face of survival".
"It wasn't for the blood donations I honestly wouldn't be here … people just don't think it will happen to them," the nurse said.
"I just want to encourage people to donate and hopefully be a face of survival.
"It's roughly an hour out of someone's day and one unit can save roughly three lives … one in 30 people donate and one in there need blood.
"It will affect most people and you will know someone who needs that blood."
Her brother, who's in the mix to return to the Power's senior line up on Sunday against West Coast, likened himself to most who hear about the Red Cross' need for blood but put off donating.
Stewart urged the public to donate blood, with the importance of this simple act becoming clear when he learned of his sister's situation.
"You see Red Cross everywhere but until something happens to your family or someone close to you, you don't realise how important it is," he said.
"It hits home."
It only takes an hour to donate blood. To make an appointment visit donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95
