Stephanie Millian – Promoting Blood Donations – and then Needing Lifesaving Blood
"I owe my life to the skill and dedication of my doctors, nurses, and surgeon, the support of my family and friends, and the blood donors whose generosity made those transfusions possible."
by Roger Lowe
Stephanie Millian never imagined during her American Red Cross career promoting blood donations that she herself would need lifesaving blood.
But that’s exactly what happened in 2005 when she was hospitalized with a massive blood clot and multiple pulmonary emboli, which led to five days in intensive care during a three-week hospital stay. As the medical team tried multiple clot-busting procedures and inserted a filter to prevent additional clots from reaching her lungs, Stephanie’s platelet and red blood cell counts dropped dangerously low.
“One moment from the ICU has stayed with me ever since: my doctors asked whether I would accept a blood transfusion and told me that without it, I would not survive,” she recalls. She received several platelet transfusions and a red blood cell transfusion, which gave her body enough strength for the doctors to successfully dissolve the clot.
“In the days, weeks, and years that followed, more than one physician told me they didn't expect me to survive,” she said. “Recovery was long and challenging; I spent three months relearning how to walk, one step at a time. Years later, one thing is crystal clear: I owe my life to the skill and dedication of my doctors, nurses, and surgeon, the support of my family and friends, and the blood donors whose generosity made those transfusions possible.”
And it gave her an even deeper appreciation for why maintaining a strong blood supply is so important.
“I've often wondered what might have happened if my medical emergency had occurred during the winter holidays or the summer months, when blood donations are traditionally at their lowest,” Stephanie said.
“Experiencing firsthand what donated blood can mean to a patient transformed my understanding of the entire blood donation and distribution system,” she added. “It wasn't just something I communicated about professionally anymore—it became deeply personal.”
An 18-year Red Cross career
Stephanie’s Red Cross career began with what was then the American Red Cross Connecticut Blood Services Region after several years as a producer and occasional reporter for a CBS affiliate in Georgia.
It launched what became an 18-year career as she moved to biomedical communications for the New England Blood Services Division, where she worked during the response to the September 11 attacks, before joining National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Her Red Cross career also included disaster public affairs, and her work included deployment in Florida for Hurricane Ivan in 2004; the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami, where she did hundreds of international and nation media calls; and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Stephanie with supermodel Niki Taylor
After several years in disaster public affairs, Stephanie returned to her biomedical communications roots, leading crisis communications and spearheading communications for union negotiations and strike preparedness.
Memorable Red Cross moments
Over the years, Stephanie was fortunate to meet countless inspiring blood donors, recipients, and their families.
“The people who stand out most are the first-time donors who rolled up their sleeves because someone they loved needed blood, the high school students who organized their first blood drives because they wanted to make a difference, and the lifelong donors who gave faithfully for decades simply because that's who they were,” she said. “Some of the most meaningful blood drives were those held in memory of someone who had relied on transfusions during their illness.”
Another highlight was the launch of Red Cross Racing in 2008, which partnered with 3M and NASCAR driver Greg Biffle (who passed away last year) —who drove the iconic "Red Cross car.” Stephanie said that the Red Cross hosted blood donor events at the tracks and connected with race fans in a unique way.
In addition, Stephanie received the first Biomedical Services President's Award, presented by then-President Shaun Gilmore, in recognition of her work supporting union negotiation communications.
Work after the Red Cross
Stephanie has remained in the nonprofit sector, and led communications teams at two national nonprofit organizations. She now serves as director of external affairs for a charter high school network serving underserved communities across New York City. She also consults with other nonprofits, providing speechwriting, presentation development, and media coaching.
Outside of work, she’s with family and friends. “My daughter is almost 12, so between work, school, sports, and after-school activities, there's not a lot of free time!” she said. “When I do have a chance to relax, I love catching up with friends, reading, and taking advantage of being close enough to enjoy a Broadway show every now and then.”
