Meet Akello Fiona. While many of us celebrate our birthdays with cake, music, and gifts, Akello Fiona chose a path less travelled, one filled with compassion, courage, and life-saving impact. As she turned a year older on 10th /10/2025, Fiona gave herself a unique and powerful challenge: to donate blood and bless newborn babies with small but meaningful gifts – basins.
This wasn’t just a spontaneous act of kindness. Fiona, who is part of associations that organize blood donation drives, wanted to lead by example. She had long watched others take part in these life-saving efforts, but this birthday, she decided that she would be the one to make a difference. Despite her fears, the sight of the needle, and the worry of fainting afterward, she stepped forward. And in doing so, something truly incredible happened.
Akello Fiona with the child whose mother she just saved
Just moments after she donated, a situation unfolded that would show how impactful her act was. An 18-year-old mother had suffered Post-Partum Hemorrhage (PPH), a life-threatening complication that required an urgent blood transfusion. The doctor had already been informed that the blood bank was empty and was returning to the theatre with heavy news. But then, a call came through, “We just received a unit of blood.” It was Fiona’s blood. On her birthday, she didn’t just celebrate life; she saved one.
This miracle was deeply personal for Fiona. She remembered her late uncle’s child, who had sickle cell disease and constantly needed blood transfusions. That experience left a lasting mark on her, the pain of watching a loved one suffer due to a lack of blood. She made a promise to herself: no sick child should suffer needlessly, and no mother should lose her life because blood wasn’t available.
Akello Fiona in the maternity ward, donating basins to mothers
Her first donation experience, though intimidating at first, turned out to be smooth. The nurse reassured her that she could safely donate again in three months. And she will, because now, she knows the value of what a single unit of blood can do.
“Donating blood gives you a new outlook on life,” Fiona shares.
“You realize you’re someone’s miracle. You may never meet them, but you’ve given them another chance at life.”
It’s not just about the blood. It’s about hope. It’s about meaning. It’s about knowing that, in your own quiet way, you are a hero.
As she steps into her new age, Fiona prays for good health because good health is the foundation of everything. She says you can live, love, give, and serve with health, and she plans to keep giving.
Be Inspired: Be Like Fiona
If you’ve ever thought about donating blood but held back due to fear or uncertainty, Fiona’s story is your sign. You can do it. And when you do, you don’t just change someone else’s life, you change your own.
Donate blood. Be a blessing. Be a miracle.
