KAILUA-KONA — Elvis Sheppard was less than 30 days away from marrying Jen Davis when he was killed in a motorcycle crash on Hina Lani Street in April.
“Everyone thinks Elvis was their best friend,” Davis said Friday afternoon. “Elvis made sure you knew he loved you.”
The 43-year-old’s tragic death shined a light onto a bigger issue the West Hawaii community faces — the need for blood donations.
Anne Broderson, friend to the couple and nurse at Kona Community Hospital, was involved with Sheppard’s care the night of the crash.
Broderson said 70 units of blood products were used that night to keep Sheppard alive. An average transfusion is one, maybe two units of blood.
“Friends were offering to donate blood at the hospital,” she said.
At one point, Broderson said, the hospital ran out of plasma and platelets to give to Sheppard.
“We had to drive to Hilo that night to get them,” Broderson said.
Sheppard was never stable enough to be transported to Honolulu for additional care.
“Blood was the only thing that kept him alive as long as it did,” Broderson said.
Davis said she had no idea what it took to get blood into a human being. As doctors worked to save Sheppard’s life, Davis and Broderson decided they would plan a blood drive. Since his passing, Davis thinks it’s the best way to honor Sheppard.
The Blood Bank of Hawaii does a blood drive every eight weeks.
Broderson and Davis asked blood bank officials if they could sponsor a drive in Sheppard’s name. Davis thought a blood drive would be an amazing tribute to her fiancé.
“We need blood on the island,” she said.
The inaugural Elvis Sheppard Blood Drive will take place Thursday and Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church house, 75-230 Kalani St.
Every donation can be split into three donations: plasma, platelets and red blood cells.
“We want to try to bring something good back to the community he loved,” Broderson said.
Broderson and Davis hoped to recruit 294 appointments for the drive. They successfully filled all slots. As of Friday night, more slots were added, totaling the recruited appointments to more than 300 with 20 more available slots.
“It’s not just about Elvis,” Davis said. “The need for what we’re doing is so important.”
Maura Dolormente, director of public relations for the Blood Bank of Hawaii, said the Elvis Sheppard blood drive is the largest drive they’ve done in West Hawaii.
“A lot of people don’t think about blood until someone needs it,” Dolormente said. “We need 200 donors every day to meet Hawaii’s patients’ needs.”
The goal at the blood bank, Dolormente said, is for the state to be self-sustainable in its blood supply. The neighbor islands are a critical part in making that happen.
“The goal is to collect enough blood on that island that would sustain that island,” she said.
Dolormente hopes the Elvis Sheppard blood drive, as well as a drive in Waikoloa on Wednesday, will bring in 300 units of blood.
Sponsored drives give the community an opportunity to take part and save lives, Dolormente added.
Blood donations during the summer time are particularly low. Dolormente said the need is incredibly tough.
“School is out and vacation is on so we see less donors,” she said.
While Sheppard’s death is tragic, Davis and Broderson seized the opportunity to do something important for the community at time when it needs it most.
“The summer time made sense,” Davis said. “I’m thrilled we can help this island. His legacy will live on…”
Davis added the Kona community has been amazing throughout the tragedy.
“They’ve shown so much love and support to me through him,” she said.
Along with the drive, Davis and Broderson will also start a fundraiser where all proceeds will go to the Kona Community Hospital earmarked for trauma services.
“This is going to be a really big deal in my life for a long time,” Davis said.
For more information about blood donations and upcoming drives, visit bbh.org.