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Dr. Christopher DeWitt is a University of SC-Aiken professor. He teaches Microbiology & Exercise Physiology. How excited we were when he came in to donate his 12th gallon at Shepeard Community Blood Center Aiken. Since every donation can save three lives, Dr. De Witt potentially saved 288 lives!
Here's what he had to stay when he told us his story:
"I have donated 96 times to reach the 12 gallon mark. I donate to help people in need. I enjoy seeing the staff at Shepeard as they are very professional and friendly. I often bring my 3 year old daughter and 5 year old son while donating because I hope when they are old enough they will become donors, too. I encourage my USC-A students to donate and I plan to donate forever."
- Dr. Christopher DeWitt
Linda Taylor, the community representative for the Shepeard Community Blood Center, Aiken, was the guest speaker for the Mid-Day Lions Club of Aiken recently. She gave an entertaining and heartfelt speech about the need for blood donors in our community.
I was glad to be the coordinator for the blood drive associated with the Mid-Day Lions. On July 20th, I showed up at noon to greet other Lions Club members who had signed up to give blood, bless their hearts. I had in tow my 13-year-old cousin Zain Curtis who was spending the day with me. Zain was not up for spending 3 or 4 hours at a blood drive, so he was allowed to run down to the shoe store and look at football cleats and return to the blood drive, and this went on until the time passed. And the pizza at the blood drive helped, too. When all his distractions were exhausted, he sat at the Shepeard Center with a glum look on his face. My girlfriend, Missy, had shown up to donate blood and she saw Zain. She said “Gee, Zain you are not enjoying this much, are you?” He replied that he was not, and that he was bored. He very much wanted to leave. And finally we did.
The following Saturday, Zain was brutally injured in a 4-wheeler accident and walked a half-mile back to his home where he begged his mother to take him directly to the ER. Zain had ruptured his spleen and had a hole in his stomach. He was bleeding out. The ER doctor said he had about 45 minutes to live because of the loss of blood, but that Aiken Regional Hospital Medical Centers had him “covered” on the blood. And that blood came from the drive at the Shepeard Center, where Zain had been sitting around so bored. Yes, that blood saved Zain's life.
As he was coming out of the ICU I asked Zain, "Hey, buddy, how do you feel about the blood drives now?" He said, "I feel real good about them."
So, within one week of our club’s blood drive, my own life was affected by seeing the life of my cousin saved. And I tell you...it can and will happen in your own backyard. Give blood.
Margaret Foreman, Aiken, SC
Blood Recipient, Zain Curtis, 13
Hopped In for a Friend
IHOP Team Leaders Terry Williams, Kelly Snyder, Nancy Gardner and Laura Hutto were compelled to donate today to honor their friend and co-worker, Christa LaCroiux. Christa’s husband, Robert, recently underwent emergency surgery and the four decided, “the blood he was using needed to be replaced,” said Terry.
Terry’s daughter also had to have three blood transfusions as a baby. For her, this is “a way to give back.” Laura Hutto is following after her father who has donated to the level of Gallon Donor. Laura’s grandmother had two transfusions for surgery after her cancer diagnosis. It was during this visit to the Wrightsboro Road center that Laura got information on becoming a platelet donor. “That’s what I want to do next time. That way I can help cancer patients, too,” said Laura.
Kelly Snyder said there wasn’t any hesitation from the group. “We needed to do what we could.” The camaraderie among the team and the desire to do what they could to help would make Christa proud. Says Nancy Gardner, “They’re a young couple. They’re very close. We felt like we had to do something to help them.”
I started giving blood during my second year of college in 1975. My father was diagnosed with kidney failure and was in the hospital a lot. He was sent to the medical center in Charleston, SC because Florence, SC had only one small hospital. After coming back home, he was placed on dialysis for his kidney failure. He was in and out of the hospital due to complications. I gave blood because he needed transfusions sometimes because he was so weak....My father lived eight years after being diagnosed. I gave blood every three months so he would have it when he needed it. When I moved to Augusta in 1978, I continued donating because I did not have a lot of money to give to charities. I felt good knowing that my donation could save three lives. I still donate but only about twice a year now....My story is really interesting because I am scared of needles. I always tell the person taking my blood not to let me see the needle....I am very proud that I have helped so many people during all these years by giving blood.
— Rosena Armstrong Reid
We were expecting triplets, and we couldn’t have been more excited. We had wanted children for so long. Unfortunately, it was not an easy pregnancy or delivery. Jennifer received several blood transfusions in the hospital before the babies were delivered. She was on bed rest for four weeks in the hospital, and then her doctor decided she couldn’t carry the babies any further. At 27 weeks gestation on February 24, 2004, Elana, Grayson, and Emily were born by cesarean section at University Hospital. During the delivery, Jennifer lost a lot of blood due to the deep implantation of one of the placentas. She received many units of donated blood during the surgery and more blood and plasma in the Intensive Care Unit after delivery. One of those units of blood was donated by her mother who shared her blood type. Without the many life saving transfusions, Jennifer would not have made it out of intensive care to see the babies that she had wanted for so long.
At just over two pounds each, Elana, Grayson, and Emily had fights of their own after they were delivered. They each proved up to the challenge. They fought past heart and lung problems, infection, sickness, and surgeries. While fighting these battles, each of them received units of donated blood to keep them going. Four months after they were born, they were all home for the first time. They have had some ups and downs since then, but two years later they are three happy and healthy children.
We are so grateful for all those people who donated blood for us. Without their generosity, we would not be where we are today. I was a blood donor before, but I never knew how important it was until after my family benefited so much from donated blood. I will make sure to donate regularly for the rest of my life. Please donate blood regularly; it truly is the gift of life.
--Jennifer Woodard
Blood Donor Hall of Fame
Submitted by: Martina Wilson, Special Recruitment Coordinator
Shepeard Community Blood Center, Augusta, Georgia
The following are some of our more faithful and dedicated platelet, plasma, and Alyx donors. For more information on these automated donation processes, please call Martina @ 706.737.4551.
WHOLE BLOOD DONORS
Steve McCulloch began donating whole blood with Shepeard in 2003, now he donates Alyx, a double red cell collection. Steve started donating blood when he was in the military. Steve is a dedicated blood donor and feels that it is such a small sacrifice that can have such a huge impact on saving lives.
Amanda McCulloch is following in her father's footsteps. Amanda said that her father, Steve, has expressed how important it is to give blood and how her donation may save the lives of three people. Amanda plans on pursuing a career in nursing and wanted to experience first hand how it is to be a patient.
PLATELET DONORS
Raymond Wingo, Jr. has been a platelet donor since the mid 1980’s. His first platelet donation was for a 5 year old church member who had leukemia. Her parents appealed to the congregation for platelet donors and Raymond was one of several to volunteer to donate platelets. He has been donating ever since. The 5 year old is now a teenager living a healthy and happy life. Mr. Wingo is faithful to keeping his appointments and often comes in having had no sleep the day or night before due to his work schedule. That is true dedication.
Mildred Cummings has been a platelet donor since 1998. Mildred has no transportation of her own and has to walk to all of her platelet appointments regardless of the weather conditions. Here in Augusta, GA the temperature can easily reach 85 degrees by 9am during our summer months. Mildred thinks that everyone who can, should become a donor. “You never know when you or someone you love will be in need of blood or platelets and none is available”. She says she is in good health and sees it as a blessing to be able to help others.
Fred Goble has donated platelets since 1998. Fred has a passion about donating platelets. Very often after his donation, as he is having a snack, Fred will engage in conversation with other donors in the canteen and talk to them about his duty to donate and vote. For Fred these are two civic duties that go hand in hand.
Phil Graves began donating platelets with Shepeard Community Blood Center when the program was in its infancy 25 years ago. Recently, due to some health issues, Phil informed us he could no longer sit for the length of time it takes to donate platelets. He was saddened by this as was the staff at our blood center. However, there is a happy ending to this story, Phil is able to donate whole blood and is thrilled that he can still help others.
PLASMA DONORS
Hershel Hood is natural born giver! He has donated with Shepeard since 1978 and if he’s not in town donating he is somewhere in the United States of America volunteering with disaster relief organizations. Mr. Hood LOVES helping others whether it’s helping to repair lives through his disaster relief efforts or donating plasma.
Ruth Stephens is passionate about her commitment as a plasma donor. When Ruth realized her blood type makes her a universal plasma donor she says “my heart was overwhelmed.” Ruth goes about encouraging her family and friends to donate plasma as well. Her recruiting efforts have led her brother to become a plasma donor. Her niece, who is a college student, donates blood and encourages her school mates to do the same. Ruth says “for me donating blood is multipurpose; it transcends race, sex and age. I can help anyone in need. What I do is small compared to what patients who need plasma have to go through.”
ALYX DONOR
John Hatney ,Jr. has been an Alyx donor since his first donation 3 years ago. John works out of town and is gone for months at a time. If he isn’t in town when we call him he calls us from the road and lets the center know when he’ll be back in town and in the center. Donating on the Alyx Collection System allows him to impact more people and fits into his rigid work schedule. John is always ready to help others and says donating blood is one way he is able to tithe his time.
Tell Us Your Story