PUNAM Kumar was diagnosed with thalassemia -- an inherited blood disorder -- about 26 years ago and has to have blood transfusion every month to increase her haemoglobin count.
And it is only possible if there is enough blood at the Lautoka blood bank.
She is indebted to the 312 people who donated blood to her since diagnosed with the disease when she was four.
Ms Kumar said it was their selfless action which enabled her to beat the odds but she is appealing for more people to sacrifice their gift of life to help others who are in need of blood like her.
"I am alive today because of all those people whose blood I am using," she said.
Ms Kumar has accepted that her medical condition will not take her far in life.
The Fiji Institute of Technology graduate had to quit her job because of her condition.
If she misses her monthly dose of blood she will become weak.
"I cannot afford to get injured because by the time I reach the hospital I will be dead."
Western Blood Bank manager Jaynesh Narayan said the blood disorder which Ms Kumar and her sister inherited causes the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less haemoglobin than normal.
haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells which carries oxygen to all parts of the body and carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs.
A blood drive will be held at the bank of Baroda in Ba on Saturday from 8.30am.
