Every two seconds someone is in need of a blood transfusion, according to the American Red Cross.
Actor James Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, was one of those people.
She experienced back-to-back miscarriages which required blood transfusions.
The couple has collaborated with the American Red Cross to urge blood, platelet or plasma donations. James and Kimberly Van Der Beek are national spokespeople for the organization.
“Donating blood is something that I’ve always done throughout my life,” James Van Der Beek said in a statement. “It seemed important. But I never knew how important until the woman I love most was in a situation where that much blood made the difference between life and death. It just brought it home in a very real way.”