Diego Barbosa, a donor recruiter at the AdventHealth Blood Center in Orlando, has a personal connection to his work encouraging blood and platelet donations. His commitment deepened after his wife, Virginia, was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.
“Her life has been saved because people decided to donate blood,” Barbosa said.
Virginia’s treatment included chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Throughout her care, she required frequent transfusions of both blood and platelets. “Blood is very important for cancer patients, not just blood, but platelets too,” Barbosa explained. “When you live through it, you understand how urgent it is.”
Initially unable to find a fully compatible donor through the international registry for Virginia’s first bone marrow transplant, the family turned to their eldest son Juan Diego as a 50 percent match. The procedure was initially successful but led to complications when Virginia developed graft-versus-host disease. Despite treatment for this condition, her cancer returned several months later.
The family continued with additional chemotherapy and radiation before doctors recommended a second bone marrow transplant as the best option for lasting remission. With no full match available again, their daughter Miranda—also a 50 percent match—will serve as the donor for the upcoming procedure scheduled on January 29.
“The doctor is very optimistic,” Barbosa said. “My wife is young, and my daughter’s cells are new and fresh. We believe this second transplant will finish the work the first one started.”
Although currently cancer-free ahead of her next transplant, Virginia still needs regular transfusions; Barbosa estimates she has received over 100 units of blood and more than 120 units of platelets during her treatment.
“During this whole process, I became a platelet donor myself,” he said. “And I bring my whole family to donate blood. This is how we give thanks.”
Barbosa sees his role at AdventHealth as an extension of his beliefs about service and compassion: “At AdventHealth, we talk about caring for the whole person,” he said. “For me, this work is about helping people feel whole again, the way donors helped my wife.”
He hopes sharing his family’s experience during National Blood Donor Month will motivate others: “With one donation, you can save two lives,” he said. “There are many patients waiting for one bag of blood. Let’s do it. Let’s donate and save lives.”
AdventHealth Orlando was founded in 1908 in Orlando, Florida; its current president is Terry Shaw. The hospital includes pediatric services and functions as a training hospital.
Blood donations remain essential throughout the year for patients dealing with cancer treatments like Virginia’s as well as trauma cases or surgeries.
Those interested in donating can schedule appointments at local centers or drives; each donation may help save multiple lives.
