(Tampa, FL, June 11, 2018) When a coworker needed blood back in 1986, Fred Lucardie rolled up his sleeve and became a blood donor. He continued to give whole blood until the early 1990’s when his wife began her battle against cancer and needed regular platelet transfusions. Learning about the need for platelet donors and the fact that this was the best gift for him to give as a Type A positive donor, he started donating in this special way.
Tampa resident Marty Caruthers first donated whole blood in the mid 1990’s when a woman in his church needed blood for surgery. The blood center staff told him what great veins he had, explained to him of the great need for platelet donors and the automated donation process to collect them. Then they showed him pictures of cancer kids who needed platelets, due to the effects of chemotherapy and he signed up. He plans to keep giving as long as his body lets him.
Fred and Marty will both donate on World Blood Donor Day 2018 and join the elite ranks of the less than 200 people who have given 100 gallons or more of blood in Florida since blood banking began during World War II!
Fred Lucardie & Marty Caruthers 100-Gallon Donor Milestone
World Blood Donor Day Celebration
Thursday, June 14
10a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
OneBlood’s Fletcher Donor Center
5301 E. Fletcher Ave.
Tampa, FL 33617
As a surprise, a multi-gallon platelet recipient will visit them both there to share her story and appreciation for donors like them.
Kathy Jones was a Tampa resident, High School teacher, spouse and mother when she was diagnosed with Acute Aplastic Anemia and began her battle against it. Her victory over it allowed her to live and become a Grandmother. She wrote to OneBlood: “This year in my life marks 14 years since I fought Acute Aplastic Anemia, a non-cancerous blood disease, and relied on blood products at least three times a week for almost a year until I had a bone marrow transplant.
I will never forget the first night that I realized how sick I was and a nurse brought in a bag of platelets and attached it to my IV pole. I remember staring at it and wondering to whom these precious platelets belonged? I wasn’t even sure what platelets were, but I knew whoever donated them was an angel on earth. On the off chance that it wasn’t a real angel, I prayed that whoever it was God would bless that person for caring about a stranger. I prayed that prayer so many times in the coming year. It’s been my pleasure to be one of “the faces of the recipients” of whole blood and platelets.
I cannot thank you enough. Each time you donate please know that there’s a grateful person on the other end who could never repay you. Please accept my heartfelt thanks and may you always know you gave a priceless gift to a stranger just like me.”
World Blood Donor Day is a day dedicated to “thanking and celebrating voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.” It occurs on June 14, the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the creator of the ABO blood group system, for which he won the Nobel Prize. The first day was held in 2005.
Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and child care and during man-made and natural disasters.
However, in many countries, demand exceeds supply, and blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety. An adequate supply can only be assured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors. The World Health Organization’s goal is for all countries to obtain all their blood supplies from voluntary, unpaid donors by 2020.
Today, only 62 countries get close to 100% of their national blood supplies from voluntary unpaid blood donations, with 40 countries still dependent on family donors and even paid donors.
Generally, healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. All donors receive a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening, plus a surprise gift.
To learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type, visit oneblood.org or call 1.888.9DONATE (1.888.936.6283).