On September 24, 2023, Travis Muller faced a life-altering event. It was fall harvest time and while working in a grain bin in Windom, Minnesota, his legs got trapped in the machinery. “I knew instantly my legs were in trouble,” Travis shared, recalling the harrowing moment.
The main arteries in his legs had been severed and blood began pouring from his injuries. His quick-thinking uncle, who was working alongside him, yelled to Travis’ brother outside the grain bin to shut it down. They leaped into action and made makeshift tourniquets from their belts to stop the bleeding – a crucial first step in saving his life.
Local first responders arrived almost immediately. Travis received two units of blood from an ambulance onsite. A helicopter, equipped with additional units of blood, arrived to airlift him to a regional trauma hospital. Midway to the hospital, the pilot landed for more units of blood because he calculated that they didn’t have enough for the entire flight to keep Travis alive. “I think I received at least seven pints of blood before I even arrived at the hospital,” says Travis.
Travis’ situation was grave and time was of the essence. “I was hemorrhaging so bad that the doctor figured at one point I was down to two units of blood left in my body,” recalls Travis. “They had to replace the majority of my blood volume.”
Upon arrival at the hospital, Travis faced the unimaginable. Emergency surgery revealed the extent of his injuries to save his life: both legs had to be amputated. Six additional surgeries soon followed. “I believe I received blood in at least five of those surgeries,” he says.
As Travis reflects, he’s filled with gratitude for the first responders and the blood donors who never knew they’d be saving his life that day. His wife Jasmine, and their toddler daughter Shaylie, are thankful for every additional moment they now share with Travis. “As life changing as this injury is, and heartbreaking to lose his legs, the doctor said just a few more seconds without blood transfusions and he would no longer be with us,” says Jasmine.
Travis agrees and adds, “What can you say except thank you to everyone – thank you for thinking of other people and taking time out of your day to make a difference.”
To raise awareness about the need for blood donations to help patients like Travis, his aunt, Monica Muller, a long-time Red Cross volunteer, organized a blood drive in his honor in his hometown of Windom, Minnesota.
“I’ve been a Red Cross volunteer for 15 years because I believe that when you donate you give the gift of life – and that’s what happened in Travis’ situation,” says Monica. “You just don’t realize the importance until it hits home. Whether it’s a serious illness or an accidental injury, people never know when they’ll be on the receiving end of a simple act of kindness.”
Monica adds, “this blood drive in honor of Travis is a call to action! It really makes a difference. Blood can’t be manufactured. There’s no other way than donating to ensure our hospitals have blood on the shelves.”
January is National Blood Donor Month, and the American Red Cross celebrates those who give blood to help save lives – especially now as we work to ensure a stable blood supply after a busy holiday season. The new year is a great time for people to donate for the first time or get back into giving, if it’s been awhile. Make a resolution to help save lives in 2024!
To schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 