UCHealth Hosting Blood Drive to Help Critically Ill Windsor Father

Update: Due to the recent Snow Storm, the event was rescheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Garth Englund Blood Center in Fort Collins. CLICK HERE to sign up.

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Original story:

UCHealth is hosting a blood drive to help a critically ill Windsor father who is currently fighting a rare medical condition brought on by COVID-19.

According to a press release from UCHealth, Nate Washam, 42, first contracted COVID-19 in January. A few weeks later, the virus caused him to develop hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening condition that impacts the immune system.

Since then, Washam has been in critical condition at the UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, where he's relying on blood transfusions from generous donors at the UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Centers.

In order to further help Washam and other patients, Kristen Powell, a family friend, is organizing the Nate Washam Community Blood Drive from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 13 at the UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center (1025 Pennock Place, Suite 104) in Fort Collins.

Walk-ins are not allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions, but donors of all blood and platelet types can sign up to donate here. The center is especially in need of blood types A and O — if slots fill up, you can sign up to donate in honor of Washam within the next three weeks here. 

"Giving blood is a productive thing that someone can do to help not just Nate but everyone else in the hospital," said Sarah Washam, Nate's wife, in the press release.

Donors must weight at least 120 pounds and be in good health. Learn more about eligibility restrictions here.