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. Additionally, Mina’s blood is RO, a crucial subtype commonly found in individuals of black African or Caribbean descent. This rarity makes her donations indispensable for patients battling inherited blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease, as well as for preventing fatal blood reactions during pregnancy.
Mina, who was adopted from the US as a baby, has been a blood donor for years but only recently discovered the significance of her unique blood. Being part of NHSBT’s UK rare donor panel, which includes about 1,200 members—or just 0.01% of all donors—means she receives priority appointments and is sometimes called upon for urgent donations tailored to specific patients’ needs.
Joanne Mathews, manager of NHSBT’s National Frozen Blood Bank in Liverpool, emphasizes Mina’s importance: “Meeting Mina is like meeting royalty. Her blood is so rare, we freeze every donation to ensure it’s available only for patients with that exact type.” The blood bank stores these precious units by freezing them within five days of donation, adding cryoprotectants to prevent damage, and safely keeping them for decades.
These frozen donations are critical during surgeries and treatments requiring transfusions, especially for patients with sickle cell disease who depend on an exact match. The blood also supports women undergoing Cesarean sections and prevents haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) — a life-threatening condition that occurs when a mother’s rare blood antibodies attack her unborn baby’s red blood cells.
Mina’s contributions have not only benefited patients in the UK but have also extended internationally, with her blood being sent as far as Portugal. Despite her vital role, she remains humble, saying, “It makes me feel very special and honoured that I could help someone who is really poorly.”
Having faced health challenges herself as a baby and watched her father battle cancer, Mina is motivated by a strong desire to give back. “How can I give back to the NHS when they’re going through hard times?” she asks. She encourages others to donate blood, highlighting how a simple act can save lives: “It doesn’t really take much out of our day, and we get a biscuit at the end of it.”
Currently, the UK’s only frozen blood bank holds over 1,000 units of rare blood, including 12 units from Mina. Demand for RO blood is rising by 10-15% annually, making donors like Mina essential to meet patients’ urgent needs. However, Mathews notes, “Our blood isn’t quick—it takes time to process and transport to hospitals, so every donation counts.”