Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./ARC Morrison Community Blood Program Leader, submitted the report and photograph of her donating whole blood.
The September 2023 American Red Cross Morrison Community Blood Drive was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Thank you, Father Slawomir “Slawek” Zimodro and the St. Mary’s Church family, for allowing the ARC to host their drives in your church hall; we appreciate your generosity. Gratefulness to the Knights of Columbus member Terry Hoehn for clearing the church hall out the evening before the blood drive; I am thankful for your faithfulness. The canteen sponsor for September blood drives is the Wa-Tan-Ye Women’s Club. The ladies who baked cookies, purchased groceries for sandwiches and juice, and prepared everything for the canteen table were Ann Camp, Meridith Layne, Joanne Wiebenga, Jan Horberg, Monica Anderson, Dee Janssen, Deanna McLain, and Nancy Usterbowski. Fresh red raspberries were donated by Mary Latwesen and Karen Stralow. Thank you, ladies, for keeping the donors returning.
There were a total of 62 people who came through our doors to give their time and blood products to help save lives. We had a total of 86 appointment slots to fill, and I did have 73 filled on Tuesday. But ten donors cancelled within 48 hours of the drive; (I totally understand when things come up unexpectedly.) We also had eight “no shows.” However, there were four walk-ins (three of whom were first-time donors), which helped balance out the deficit.
Fifty-four terrific whole blood donors gave blood–to be divided up into Packed Red Blood Cells, platelets, and plasma–helping to save 54 people. They were Julie Damhoff, Jackie Damhoff, Bryan Vogel, Barb Imel, Nancy Bartels, Stephanie Vavra, Craig Brady, Ava Valdez, Du Wayne Ottens, Lyle Bush, Amy Oudekerk, Marsha Geerts, Bill Anderson, Renee Vanderlaan, Cathie Downs, Bill Kuehl, Randy Kuehl, Stephen Sippel, Lisa Milnes, Penny Milnes, Tammy Pruis, Ken Gooley, Chris Hawkins, Martha Kophamer, Larry Tichler, Steve Geerts, Brad Bielema, Pam Shank, David Stickel, Patricia Hamstra, Jacob Prombo, Joyce Hamstra, Carolyn Aiken, Nancy Shank, Kari Forster, Melinda Cadogan, Julie Brown, Beth Wroble, Susan Gomez, Shanna Given, Joe R. Bielema, Jenna Landheer, Dale Belt, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, Brooke Newman, Kaywyn Beswick (pictured), and eight donors (one woman and seven men) who did not want their names published.
This drive had seven wonderful “double red” donors, who donated two units of packed RBCs, and received all of their own platelets, plasma, and WBCs back, each saving two lives. They were Dave Boyles, Jill Bramm, Dick Wieneke, Mark Zinnen, Tom Demay, Mitch Milnes, and a gentleman who did not want his name published.
Our ARC goal for the drive was 60 good units, and there were 62 units obtained; that is 103.33% efficiency! I am always gratified when we reach and exceed goal. Our Morrison Community Blood Drives were given the designation of Premiere Blood Partner in 2019, because we obtain at least 30 units at every drive and reach our goal at least 80% of the time.
Nine donors reached gallon pin milestones; they gave a total of 1760 units and saved 5280 lives! They were
1. Jackie Damhoff (2 gallons)
2. Bryan Vogel (2 gallons)
3. Mark Zinnen (four gallons)
4. Barb Imel (5 gallons)
5. Carolyn Aiken (11 gallons)
6. Bill Kuehl (14 gallons)
7. Chris Hawkins (17 gallons)
8. Dale Belt (18 gallons)
9. an anonymous man (9 gallons.)
Other statistics calculated were 34 donors using online RapidPass (which decreases donor waiting time by 10-15 minutes); three First Time donors; six deferrals, which was 9.6%.
Someone asked me what the difference is between a “cancellation” and a “no show” appointment. In my opinion, the “cancellation” is when the donor either contacts me or goes online and cancels their appointment, before the drive begins at noon. This allows other donors can get online or contact me to make an appointment in that vacated time. Thus, it can still be utilized. The “no show” does not come in and does not let me know the reason; nobody can take the vacated appointment spot. So, in essence, it is wasted. This is not something in writing, or information given to me in instructions when I became a Coordinator in May of 2009. It is simply common courtesy.
The next ARC Morrison Community Blood Drive will be on Thursday, November 16, from noon to 5:45 p.m., at St, Mary’s Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road. Make your appointment online at www.redcross.org; upload the blood donor app on your smartphone to make an appointment; contact Beswick by text or phone at 815-718-5117; use Facebook Messenger.
Bring a spouse, relative, neighbor, or co-worker, and save up to three lives! Donating blood is easy, takes usually less than an hour, and is very rewarding. Drink 16 ounces of extra water the morning of donating. Bring a photo ID if you are going to be a walk-in.