Kate Kenyon contracted sepsis at the age of two and has since had two kidney transplants.
She has relied on blood donations for much of her life and is now appealing for donors to step forward and give the gift of life this festive season.
“I know without blood transfusions I would not be standing here right now,” she told STV News.
“From such a young age and until the next time I need a transplant, which I inevitably will need, they will be with me through life.
“The people donating are constantly there supporting me through everything that I do, and I have the ability to do everything that I do because of people who have donated.”
Ten thousand blood donors are required across Scotland before Christmas to ensure supplies are kept at safe levels.
In Aberdeen, more than 80% of appointments are yet to be filled across Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and January 2.
A total of 260 donors are needed in Aberdeen across those days. However, only 46 have booked in.
In Dundee, the city needs to welcome around 360 per week to meet demand.
The service aims to store six days of stock for each of the eight blood groups, but currently only a handful meet this target.
“Had I not had blood transfusions, that sepsis would have taken over my body and I would have died,” said Kate.
“It’s not just important to me but my family as well. I have family members who, again, would not be here without them.
“It keeps families together, it keeps people alive, and that is such an amazing thing to be able to do.”
Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher, head of donor services at the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service, said: “It’s a busy period for everyone.
“But we really need those donors to come forward, because there’s patient demand, babies are born, hospital appointments, people who are transfusion dependant who need that blood every day of the year – it doesn’t take a break over Christmas.”
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