Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./ARC Morrison Community Blood Program Leader submitted the report.
The Thursday, September 21, 2023, American Red Cross Morrison Community Blood Drive was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison, IL. 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 Knight 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!
Sixty-two people gave their time and blood products to help save lives! We had a total of 86 appointment slots to fill, and I had 73 filled on Tuesday. Ten donors cancelled within 48 hours of the drive. (I totally understand when things come up unexpectedly.) We had eight “no shows,” but there were four walk-ins (three of whom were first-time donors), which helped balance out the deficit of expected donors.
Whole blood donors who gave blood to help save three lives, totaled 54 terrific 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, and eight donors (one woman and seven men) who did not want their names published.
We had seven wonderful double red donors, who donated two units of packed RBCs, and received all of their own platelets, plasma, and WBCs back, saving two lives. They were Dave Boyles, Jill Bramm, Dick Wieneke, Mark Zinnen, Tom Demay, Mitch Milnes, and one gentleman who did not want his name published.
The ARC goal for the drive was 60 good units, and there were 62 units obtained; that is 103.33% efficiency! I am always happy 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 our drives.
There were nine donors who reached gallon pin milestones. Jackie Damhoff and Bryan Vogel will get 2-gallon pins; Mark Zinnen will receive a 4-gallon pin; Barb Imel will acquire a 5-gallon pin; Carolyn Aiken will collect an 11-gallon pin; Bill Kuehl will obtain a 14-gallon pin; Chris Hawkins will reap a 17 gallon pin; Dale Belt will score an 18-gallon pin. One gentleman who did not want his name published will earn a 9-gallon pin. These nine donors alone have given a grand total of 1760 units and saved up to 5280 lives.
The next ARC Morrison Community Blood Drive will be Thursday, November 16, from noon to 5:45 p.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Garden Plain Road. Make your own appointment online at www.redcross.org, or upload the blood donor app on your smartphone and make an appointment, or contact me by text or phone call at 815-718-5117 or Facebook Messenger.
Bring a spouse, relative, neighbor, or coworker, and save up to three lives. It’s easy, takes, usually less than an hour, and is very rewarding. Drink 16 ounces of extra water the morning of donating, and bring a photo ID, if you are going to be a walk-in.