Christian Doctor Kent Brantly, Survivor of Ebola Virus, Donates Blood to Infected American Dr. Rick Sacra

Sep 12, 2014 02:35 PM EDT

Ebola Infected American Doctor Rick Sacra
This 2007 photo released by the Nebraska Medical Center shows Dr. Richard Sacra working in west Africa

Dr. Rick Sacra, the third American to contract the Ebola virus while working as a Christian missionary to Liberia, has received two blood transfusions from Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly. Sacra's wife says that the doctor's condition has been steadily improving since his admission to a Nebraska hospital last week.

Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol were released from Emory Hospital in August after having survived the Ebola virus. Brantly, who was working for the Samaritan's Purse organization in Liberia, Africa, humbly thanked those who had prayed for him during his illness - "If you're pursuing God's calling in your life, He will use you. Even if it's a challenging calling, even if you find yourself in difficult circumstances, He will give you what you need to be faithful to Him, even if it's a whole army of people praying for you," he said.

Because Dr. Brantly has recovered from the virus, his blood likely contains antibodies which could help others who are infected with Ebola. Fox News reports that Brantly recently flew to Nebraska to give two blood transfusions to Dr. Sacra, who shares his same blood type, with hopes that it would help the doctor recover. Brantly himself had reportedly been given a blood transfusion from an Ebola survivor prior to his admission to the hospital in Atlanta.

An American doctor who recently contracted the Ebola virus while working for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Sierra Leone is being treated at Emory Hospital in Atlanta as well. Details about his condition are being kept private.