Family and Consumer Science teacher Beth Fochtman got a small taste of show business on Tuesday.

Fochtman was part of the filming of a commercial promoting blood donations to Vitalant, the blood bank that has recently replaced Central Blood Bank.

Her participation in this commercial was inspired by her past.

In February 2012, Fochtman and her husband, math teacher Rich Fochtman, experienced the loss of their son, Logan, from complications in Mrs. Fochtman’s pregnancy. She had a previously unknown tumor that ruptured, and Logan died as a result. In essence, Mrs. Fochtman said, she only lived because of Logan’s death.

Producers of the commercial contacted Fochtman because of her previous help with school blood drives and her personal background as a recipient of donated blood, which helped her survive.

Fochtman has one line in the commercial, which features other survivors as well. The commercial was filmed at WPXI’s studio and will air in April.

“The experience was great,” Fochtman said, “There were professional hair and makeup artists there too. It was a lot of fun.”

“I was very nervous but it was an exciting nervous. I am always honored to carry my son’s legacy,” Fochtman said.