BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A young mother nearly lost her life after giving birth to her daughter but was saved thanks to a blood transfusion through Houchin Blood Bank.

25-year-old Jessica Carlson says she is alive and well because of someone's gift of blood donations.

On Friday, she was finally able to meet two of her donors, who she now calls her blood sisters.

It was back in 2018 when Carlson had just given birth to her baby girl Adelyne and soon found herself bleeding out and needing two units of blood.

Thanks to the Houchin Blood Bank and her two donors Kerry Meadors and Gissel Ayon, who each provided a unit of blood gave the Carlson family another chance.

Carlson says the birth of her daughter was supposed to be a joyous memory for her family that soon turned for the worse. The moment almost left her husband as a single father to their two children.

The family now is encouraging the community to give back.

"Donate because two people donated that saved my life to give me back to my kids and husband," Carlson said. "If they can't physically be there saving someone's life they can go and give some time and donate some blood."