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Friday, May 22, 2009 10:06 PM CDT
Our View: It can be simple to do something great
By JG/T-C Staff
editorial@jg-tc.com
There are many milestones in life: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and retirements come to mind.
Donald Schaefer of Charleston recently celebrated a unique milestone that more people should be able to claim: Schaefer, 73, logged his 200th donation of blood to the American Red Cross.
It’s long been a part of his life to drop off a pint of the life-saving liquid. Schaefer said he started donating while in the U.S. Army in the mid-1950s and now is happy to see his children and grandchildren also joining him in the tradition.
Just what does the American Red Cross do with each pint of blood it collects? From the group’s Web site: “Each donated unit normally is separated into multiple components, such as red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipatitated AHF (antihemophilic factor). Each component can be transfused to different individuals with different needs.
“Therefore, each donation can be used to help save as many as three lives.”
That’s potentially 600 lives that Schaefer has saved through his consistent donations. How many other activities can the average person say gives them a chance to help save three lives?
It’s really not that hard to give blood. In fact, it’s pretty easy. Drop by a blood drive and let the medical professionals briefly evaluate you and practically painlessly collect a pint. They give you cookies and juice and other treats, too.
It’s certainly true that, due to health issues, many people are unable to give blood. That’s no reason for some to feel left out. The American Red Cross and other blood banks can always use volunteers to assist with blood drives and lend helping hands to the cause.
The next blood drives in this area are being held by Community Blood Services: one from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Cross County Mall, 700 Broadway, Mattoon, and one from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Hilltop Convalescent Center, 910 W. Polk Ave., Charleston.
Schaefer has set quite an example.
Many others can mark giving milestones of their own, and it just takes a commitment of time: a pretty simple way to do something priceless for others.
— JG/T-C Editorial Board
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