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Somerset Woman’s Ultra-Rare Blood Frozen to Save Lives for Up to 30 Years

Friday, March 13, 2026 blood nhsbt rareblood donation transfusion sicklecells frozenblood pregnancy health lifesaving

Mina Stoddart-Stones, a 26-year-old from Bridgwater, Somerset, has become a vital figure within NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) due to her ultra-rare blood type. Known as a VIP donor, her blood is so rare that every donation is frozen and stored, remaining usable for up to 30 years. Only eight other donors across the UK share Mina’s blood type, which is characterized as U negative and N negative—meaning her red blood cells lack antigens present in nearly everyone else.