North Plainfield Man Battling Leukemia on a Life-Saving Mission to Encourage Blood Donations During Big 10 “We Give Blood” Competition
Diego Orozco enjoys a visit from the Rutgers University Men’s Basketball Team during his first hospitalization at RWJUH.
(New Brunswick, NJ) - Diego Orozco knows firsthand that every blood donation offers new hope for blood cancer patients like him. After battling leukemia and enduring three stem cell transplants, the 34-year-old North Plainfield resident has relied on countless blood transfusions to survive some of the most difficult moments of his cancer journey.
Today, as he continues to move forward with resilience and gratitude, Orozco is using his experience to advocate for more blood donors, reminding others that a simple act of generosity can help give patients like him a second chance—and, in many cases, save a life.
Following each transplant at Rutgers Cancer Institute and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), Diego needed multiple blood transfusions as his body struggled to produce its own blood.
“I always felt very fortunate that every time I needed a transfusion there was blood available for me,” Diego explains. “I have benefitted from the generosity of so many selfless donors. Even today, I depend on them. Every time I needed them, they have been my bridge to stability and helping my body recover.”
Diego, who is currently recovering from his third stem cell transplant, encourages any individual who is eligible to donate blood and blood products to support the Abbott and Big Ten "We Give Blood" initiative, a nationwide competition to turn school pride into life-saving action by addressing national blood shortages. The competition is presented by Abbott, the Big 10 Conference, Rutgers Athletics, and RWJBarnabas Health Blood Services.
Diego Orozco, center, with family at home.
To participate in the competition, Rutgers students, fans, alumni and anyone who wishes to support patients like Diego, can donate anytime between Aug. 26-Dec. 4 at blood drives or blood centers across the U.S. It only takes three easy steps to participate:
1. Donate blood at any blood drive or blood center in the U.S. between August 26 and December 4, 2026.
2. Take a photo or save your donation confirmation.
3. Log your donation at www.BigTen.org/Abbott or text GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT).
For a convenient location to donate blood or platelets, please visit: https://giveblood.rwjbh.org/donorportal/
Diego Orozco with his wife, Mariajose.
About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), a RWJBarnabas Health Facility, is a 724-bed academic medical center in New Brunswick that is New Jersey’s largest academic medical center through its deep partnership with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers Cancer Institute. RWJUH is home to the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, a nationally-ranked 2026-27 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. RWJUH is recognized by U.S.
News & World Report as a Best Regional Hospital for 2026-2027 with 10 High Performing Adult Specialties and Conditions. Centers of Excellence include heart and vascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, stroke care, neuroscience, orthopedics, pediatrics and women’s health. As the only state-designated Adult Level 1 Trauma Center with an ACS COT Level I-verified Pediatric Trauma Center in New Jersey, RWJUH serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness.
For more Information visit us online at www.rwjbh.org/newbrunswick
Contact: Peter Haigney
RWJUH Public Relations
(732) 937-8568