MBTA Transit Police Officer Richard H. Donohue Jr. at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in May.
PHOTO BY NICOLAUS CZARNECKI/METRO
Doctors at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge said Transit Police Officer Richard Donohue lost nearly every drop of blood in his body after being shot during a standoff with alleged Boston Marathon bombers in April.
That’s why Donohue, 33, and his wife Kim helped put on a blood drive Thursday at the Boston Marriott Copley Place – to help give back to those who helped him survive.
“When I was shot in Watertown. I required 46 blood products and about 26 units of blood – from what I understood, that’s more than two full people’s worth of blood. That’s why I’m here today. If people didn’t give blood in such amounts, I wouldn’t be here,” said Donohue, who was expected to host part of the drive.
“(The blood) replenished my system, and kept my body functioning. I’m much better off than I could have been,” said Donohue.
The event, which benefits Mount Auburn and is being organized by the American Red Cross, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the hotel.
About 150 people had signed up by Wednesday night.
Donohue said his recovery is progressing, slowly but surely.
“I’m feeling pretty good I’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “I’ve learned to be very patient with things. I still have limitations, but I have to focus on the positive and move forward everyday.”
For more information contact the American Red Cross at 617-274-5200.
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