Two women, Shenelle Freeman and Tonya Brown, both live in Metro Detroit and have never met. “Back in March of this year, originally, I thought I had the flu,” said Shenelle Freeman. “Well it was around March when I thought I had just a bad sore throat,” said Tonya Brown. READ: Detroit police officers deliver Thanksgiving meals on city’s west sideREAD: New Metro Detroit business owner gives back to those in needFreeman and Brown both called their doctors and were diagnosed with COVID-19. I made it to another Thanksgiving,” Brown said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Michigan Medicine is asking COVID-19 survivors and patients to donate blood for new research projects at the University of Michigan and beyond. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are asked to donate blood, tissues and other biological samples, like nasal swabs, to the University of Michigans COVID-19 Biorepository -- a library of COVID-19 related donated samples. U-M scientists will use the samples to further student the coronavirus, its effects and possible preventative measures and treatments. Over 17,000 samples from 800 COVID-19 patients at Michigan Medicine have already been donated but the healthcare system is now asking for samples from non-Michigan Medicine patients. Participants must be willing to donate six teaspoons of blood, be 18-years-old or older and currently have or have recovered from COVID-19.