Bloodworks 101
Started in 2020, Bloodworks 101 is an Anthem Award-winning, weekly podcast produced by Bloodworks Northwest, a Seattle-based blood bank and research center. Episodes are designed to inspire and educate listeners to donate time, money or blood.
On Bloodworks 101 you'll meet experts who can discuss everything from the importance of blood donation to trypanophobia (fear of needles).
Emmy Award-winning producer John Yeager, is joined by a team of gifted storytellers Bill Harper, Helen Pitlick and Juan Cotto.
In 2024, Bloodworks 101 won its fourth coveted Anthem Award, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 43 nations.
Bloodworks 101
"Elaine Sonntag-Johnson: A Mother Against The Odds" (S3 E26)
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At age 30, Elaine Sonntag Johnson was loving her career as a family therapist, blissfully married, and eager to start a family. But following blood tests from her OB/GYN, she was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (or PNH for short) and given just 3-5 years to live. In an ode to Mothers' Day and moms everywhere, this is an episode of resilience and hope; that diagnosis was 37 years ago, Elaine and husband Daniel have two adopted children in their 20s, and thanks to a breakthrough medication for PNH patients, King County's most prolific blood recipient (over 1,000 units) rarely needs blood anymore.
