WHEN Inspector Clare Mackintosh signed up to give blood as a teenager, she never imagined she would one day need a life-saving donation.

But Clare – who is Thames Valley Police’s operations inspector for Oxfordshire – needed a life-saving transfusion when she gave birth to twin sons Alex and Josh three years ago.

The boys were born 12 weeks early and taken immediately to the special care baby unit at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, where they also received emergency blood transfusions.

Tragically, Alex contracted meningitis and died a fortnight later, aged just five weeks.

Insp Mackintosh, who lives in west Oxfordshire, said: “I started giving blood when I was about 18, never thinking I would need it myself.

“Then I had the twins and they were born exceptionally early.

“I needed a sizeable transfusion and both my boys needed a number of transfusions too.

“Sadly, Alex didn’t survive, but my other son is now a big, bouncing boy coming up to three.

“But the fact that we managed to survive at all, is all down to the transfusion.”

Insp Mackintosh can no longer give blood because the National Blood Service rules do not allow anyone who has received a transfusion to carry on donating.

However she is backing the Oxford Mail’s Gift of Life campaign to sign up 1,000 new blood donors.

She said: “I urge all my friends and family to donate and appeal to everyone who can, to do it.

“I am backing the campaign because people don’t appreciate how important it is to donate or understand the extent of the blood shortage.

“And if they’re anything like me, they won’t be able to envisage a time when they would need it.

“I never expected there would come a time when I’d need someone else’s blood, but it can happen to anyone.”

Insp Mackintosh has since had another set of twins, Evie and Georgia, who are now one.

Have you got a story about giving or receiving blood? Email Amanda Williams or call her on 01865 425426.