YORK (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- A family photo album is a familiar sight. These hard-surface albums can hold a lot more than printed memories.
"There are cards from everybody, the whole time I was sick," says Beth Switzer, a 4th grade teacher at Coastal Ridge Elementary School in York.
Like all teachers she has textbook organization.
"Thank you notes, things about my disease, questions for the doctor."
A skill she maintained even when she couldn't remember much.
"July 21st 1997. I was fine at midnight and then the next morning I was very sick."
At the hospital, she learned her diagnosis.
"TTP, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura."
It's a rare blood disorder where blood clots form in small vessels throughout the body, limiting or blocking oxygen to vital organs like the brain and heart. She needed plasma transfusions, 67 of them.
"Every time it's like 10 to 15 people's donations into one, so if you do the math, it's a lot."
Switzer says she would not be here today if it weren't for all the people who donated that blood. She saved every get well card she received in the hospital and during treatment. Three albums, full.
"So many people came and I don't remember that at all, but my mother wrote down everything and wrote down every day that someone was here."
When she was finally better, she threw a party.
"And instead of TTP which is what my disease is called we called it 'Totally Time to Party' to thank everyone for what they had done."
An experience she wouldn't change.
"I was able to live through something where I got to see how people felt about me. A lot of times people pass away and they don't ever know that. And I was able to experience that."
As soon as she was healthy enough to donate blood, Switzer did, to pay it forward. Her class also participates in an annual blood drive.
Wednesday March 28th NEWS CENTER Maine will host blood drives all over the state.
HOW TO REGISTER
- Go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767
- Enter sponsor code "NEWSCENTERMAINE" in upper-right
- Choose location and time, complete registration