Mother encourages donations

Leather jackets, religious faith and the Red Cross. An odd trio at first glance, but it has proved to be a winning combination for the family members and close friends of a Garden Grove man who was critically injured in a traffic collision in Costa Mesa on Sunday.

With help from Red Cross workers at Western Medical Center, Wesley Estes’ mother, Margaret Van Over, organized a blood drive in his name at the American Red Cross Donor Center in Santa Ana.

Van Over, family and friends shared memories of Estes and took photos for a scrapbook as they donated blood Friday.

Estes, 34, suffered a severe head injury and multiple fractures Sunday when his Harley Davidson collided with a Dodge Caravan on Fairview Road in Costa Mesa. Estes was taken to Western Medical Center, where he remains in a medically induced coma due to the severity of his injuries.

“Sitting in the hospital, I was just trying to think of a way to turn this negative into a positive,” Van Over said. “Now, seeing this outpouring of love, it’s just amazing.”

Some of those most proudly displaying their love for Estes are fellow members of Motorcycle Ministries, the Christian motorcycle club in which Estes has been active for about six years.

The tight-knit club has had a noticeable impact on Estes, inspiring him to attend church multiple times each week and to take part in community outreach programs.

Red Cross accounts manager Vanessa Van Mil-Schoonbeck said 33 people showed up to donate blood on Friday, and more than 48 people are expected to donate between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. today.

Cliff Numark, director of Donor Recruitment for Red Cross of Southern California, emphasized the importance of giving blood during holiday and summer months.

“Typically during any holiday, supplies dwindle because people go on vacation and they’re not giving blood, but accidents still occur, injuries still occur. What they’re doing by holding this drive is really important,” Numark said.

This is the second major trauma accident in which Estes suffered a head injury, Van Over said. Estes was in a car accident on his 19th birthday, when he injured the same area of his head.

Estes’s cousin Cheri Natzic summed up the mixed feelings of hope and fear the family has while they wait for updates about Estes’s condition.

“We’re all hopeful, we’re all faithful people, and we’re trying to be strong,” Natzic said. “But it’s a big piece of our hearts lying there in the hospital. We’re hoping for the best.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Wesley Estes Special Blood Drive

WHERE: 1518 Brookhollow Drive, Santa Ana

WHEN: 9 a.m. -- 2 p.m. today

COST: none

INFO: Walk-ins welcome, call (714) 697-5491 to schedule an appointment