It was a hot and humid day, pretty usual for July. On Tuesday, July 16, the 4th Morrison ARC Blood Drive of 2013 was held at Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL, with the City Hall thermometer reaching into the high 90’s.
The sponsor for the day was the Kiwanis and Key Club of Morrison. Thank you, Kiwanis and Key Club ladies and gentlemen, for helping man some of the stations and for providing the sandwiches, fruit, beverages, and treats for the lunch given to donors. They were Kris Bielema and her niece, Madison Duke from Yorkville, IL, Maddie Kull, Judy Becker, Frank Vandermyde, Ron Finnicum, Michaela Rinker, and Denise Bramm.
Fifty-nine wonderful people came in from the heat to cool off and give their time and blood products to help those in need. I am so appreciative of all the generous folks in our great County. [They] are so gracious when it comes to being heroes for those who require medical assistance in the form of a blood product transfusion, such as packed red blood cells, platelets, and plasma!
We ALL know someone who has had a transfusion of some sort, whether it be a loved one, family member, friend, co-worker, or neighbor. You can give in honor of someone, or in memory of someone. Most of our regular donors have really great reasons for donating. What is your story? Tell the ARC on the website at www.givelife.org or call the 1-800-GIVE LIFE.
We had four outstanding first-time donors: Ron Finnicum, Stan Emmert, Norine Urban, and Becky Linton. Thank you for joining the ranks! I am hopeful that you all become regular donors. There were three pins awarded. The recipients were David Abele, receiving a 4-gallon pin; Julie Damhoff receiving a 5-gallon pin; Don Smith receiving a 16-gallon pin! These three terrific people have given a combined 200 units in their lifetime. What a fabulous accomplishment!
We had five “twice as nice” people contributing “ouble-red-cells,” equaling two units of packed red blood cells. They were Callie Bush, David Abele, Larry Oudekerk, Sally Ward, and Don Smith. These tremendous people get credit for giving two units and only have to come in half as often–three times a year instead of the usual six, or every eight weeks. Only certain blood types and body heights and weights qualify to give DRC’s.
The rest of the beautiful bunch of presenters who came through our doors that day were Bob Schick, Michael Beswick, Keith Wiersema, Julie Brown, Lynn Reimer, Wally Kilgus, Steve Miley, Renee Vanderlaan, Bev Hufman, Cheryl Geiger, Mary Pilgrim, Pam Pickens, Bill Kuehl, David Jindrich, Evan Haag, Carolyn Aiken, James Huber, Cindy Hoogheem, Mark Schuler, Christopher Hill, Chris Hawkins, Jim Fisher, Beth Wroble, Lorna Temple, Kim Mulnix, Em Schroeder, Lisa Nice, Linda Temple, Katie Barnett, Kristine Honeycutt, Brad Bielema, Margaret Barr, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, Richard Glazier, Adrienna Rombouts, Mark Kooi, Gary Simpson, Tom Beveroth, Bill Anderson, Janet Manchester, Joe R. Bielema, Millie Schaver, Kaywyn Beswick, and three humble gentlemen who did not want their names printed to be acknowledged for their gallant efforts. But I know who they are, and I Aappreciate them very much!
I am so thankful for Morrison United Methodist Church offering their hall to accommodate the blood drives. I am very appreciative of my other volunteers who help man the different stations throughout the room. They were Marian Dykema, Deloris Smith, Deb Wikoff, Marcia Haag, Erin Beswick, and Marilyn Akker.
Thanks, again, to the Kiwanis men for faithfully helping at every blood drive. They set up the room and unload the truck when it arrives and come back to reload the truck and put chairs and tables away. They were Nick Becker, Frank Vandermyde, Ike Isaacsen, and Ron Finnicum.
I need to make a huge apology to all those who had to wait to donate blood at the drive. I never found out what the problem was, but the donor representative over our area has been made aware of the problem. So have the survey personnel who e-mailed me a survey about how the drive went. I was very disappointed that so many people were delayed. Most of our drives get donors in and out quickly, sometimes not even sitting down in the waiting area. I know three people had to leave after waiting quite awhile. I appreciate all those who stuck it out! Much appreciation for the fantastic 25 walk-ins that came in that day. It was a record number for me in the five years that I have been coordinating the ARC drives in Morrison; I began in May 2008.
I am so proud of our town and the citizens that reside here. I am always amazed at how things turn out. I figured with the heat, summer vacations, and the other drives that a competitor has been having in Morrison, that our numbers would have been low for the day. ARC’s goal for us was “50 good units out the door.”
With the appointments, all the walk-ins, and DRC donations we met and exceeded goal by 10%. We took in 45 whole blood units, which help three people each, and five double reds totaling ten units, which help ten patients. That is a grand total of 55 units going out to save 145 lives! Pretty good day’s work, Morrison!
Our next drive will be a different day of the week, because I was not granted the vacation day off to coordinate the drive. So it has been changed to a THURSDAY. It will be held on Thursday, September 19, from noon to 6:00 p.m. at MUMC. Hope to see you all there.
Respectfully submitted with much gratitude by Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./Morrison ARC Blood Drive Coordinator