Press Releases

Crash Victim Appeals for Post-Storm Donations

Ariel Fishman, who needed 70 pints of blood after he lost both legs in a taxi accident, urged people to step up in the wake of the weekend snowstorm while thanking donors at Center East.  His appearance was covered by New York television stations and 1010WINS NewsRadio.

NYBC has produced a video detailing Ariel?s story, which is now available via YouTube: http://youtu.be/_uwHvgbzwsI

Fishman was critically injured when a taxi slammed into him while he was dropping his children off at school, crushing both of his legs.

?As I fell to the ground, I worried that my children would see what happened. The next I remember is waking up in the hospital three days later,? said Fishman. Over the next few weeks, Fishman required numerous surgeries and ultimately the amputation of both legs.  He received 70 units of blood during his treatment.

?If 70 different people hadn?t taken the one hour of their time to go to New York Blood Center and give blood, life would be very different for my children,? said Fishman. ?I don?t know who those people are but they gave blood and I am alive.?

Since his accident, Fishman has become an advocate for blood donation.  ?Every day we have the opportunity to change lives. Blood donors do just that and I hope my story will encourage others to give generously and ?pay it forward.??