Local blood recipient creates replacement challenge for blood units that saved his life

After Roger Bockweg received 50 units of blood from emergency surgery in 2003, he wanted to challenge his friends, family, and community to replace the units that saved his life with the, "Roger's Replacement Challenge". Since April 24, 2023, Roger's challenge has resulted in more than 135 collected units and continues through June 15 at all Hoxworth donor centers where donors can give back for Roger by mentioning group code C271 at the time of donation.

Since receiving the lifesaving 50 pints of blood due to emergency surgery, Roger Bockweg reflects on life over the past 20 years, a life he was able to live because of Hoxworth blood donors.

“I was able to continue to be a husband to my wonderful wife, Lisa, and continue to be father to our three young girls,” he said. “I’ve also been able to watch them grow up and be involved in life’s most important events, including walking each one of them down the aisle at their weddings.”  

Roger and his wife will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in July and will soon welcome their ninth grandchild. 

After recovering from the successful surgery performed by Timothy Pritts, MD, PhD, professor and Division Chief of General Surgery at the UC College of Medicine, who recently made headlines for his role in the recovery of Damar Hamlin, safety for the Buffalo Bills who suffered cardiac arrest during a Cincinnati Bengals game at Paycor Stadium in early 2023, Roger has gone on to become a lap swimmer and more recently, a canoeist. The successful surgery also inspired his wife to pursue a career in nursing, where she has faithfully served many patients at St. Elizabeth hospital Edgewood since becoming an RN in 2008.

Most recently, Roger has been sharing “Life Lessons from Canoeing,” short blurbs about what he has learned about life while canoeing on creeks and rivers in greater Cincinnati, where he can be found many mornings of the week during the summer and fall. These lessons can be found on Facebook at: #Lifelessonsfromcanoeing.

“I thank God for the grace to still be here and for all those in the medical community, especially the Hoxworth team, that have helped me see and experience all these years of life that otherwise would not exist for me without your help,” shares Roger. 

Make a lifesaving donation in honor of Roger by clicking the button below: