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A farewell gift to
2015
Donors crowd CBC to make New Year’s Eve blood donations
DAYTON, Ohio (Dec. 31, 2015) - Blood donors are giving the gift of life
as a going-away present to 2015. Nearly every seat in the waiting
area and Donor Café and every bed in the Donor Room were filled by late
morning at the downtown Dayton Community Blood Center on New Year’s Eve
as donors squeezed in one last donation before the New Year.
A “donor of honor” in the crowd was blind donor Larry Smith from Dayton
who gave platelets for his 298th lifetime donation. It was
Larry’s first return visit to CBC since his Dec. 8 donation when he was
also inducted into the national Fresenius Kabi Donation Hall of Fame.
Larry is among 12 donors inducted for 2015. A picture of each
inductee and the story of why they were nominated appear on each month
of the 2016 Hall of Fame calendar. It’s fitting that Larry is
“Mr. December” because part of his recognition was for the donation he
made during a snow storm on the day after Christmas in 2012.
“I was all set to come in today and I can’t think of a better way to
end the year,” he said. “It’s a good thing to do and I enjoy doing it.
I don’t go out and tell the world about it, I just go on my way.”
Larry was joined by a crowd of donors, happy to do something to help
others as a final good deed in 2015. “I wanted to donate one more time
before the end of the year,” said Katelyn Brink of Huber Heights, who
made her 21st lifetime donation Thursday. “I like donating.”
Brent Russell made his 47th lifetime donation with a platelet donation.
“I took the whole day off, I didn’t have anything to do in the morning
and it all worked out,” he said. “Now I can go watch football for the
rest of the day and tomorrow!”
James Grusenmeyer is part of the Tipp City Grusenmeyer farm family that
includes several loyal CBC blood donors. “I’m getting there,”
said James as he donated platelets for his 50th lifetime donation. “I’m
catching up to my dad.” James’ dad Steve Grusenmeyer just reached
his milestone 150th lifetime donation. “He started donating platelets
when I started donating platelets.”
James is an agriculture student at Ohio State University and also works
as a UPS delivery driver in Columbus. The holidays have been
busy, so he has no big plans for New Year’s Eve. “I’m going to
sleep,” he said. “I just got off work three hours ago and came down
here from Columbus. “I delivered 7,000 boxes just by
myself. You can tell by the labels they were mostly Christmas
gift returns.”
Trezure Porter made her third lifetime donation with no special timing
for New Years’ Eve. “Just because,” she said. “I got a call that it was
time to donate again so I thought that I would.” She’ll be at
work for most of New Year’s Eve, but gets off at 10 p.m., leaving open
the possibility of celebrating at midnight.
Elaine Reinert is certain that it will be quiet and casual when the New
Year arrives. She made her 19th lifetime donation, while her
husband Donald made his 15th. “The family that bleeds together
stays together!” she laughed. “I plan to take it easy. We’ve been
running for a while. I plan to relax and spend the evening with
my husband, no big plans for the evening.”
It will be a New Year’s Eve to remember for 16-year-old Centerville
High School student Allison Hart. Her dad Kenneth signed her
consent so that she could make her first lifetime donation
Thursday. “My dad asked me about it,” she said. “It’s a good
cause and I figured why not?”
“I encouraged her to do it,” said Kenneth Hart as he made his 39th
lifetime donation with Allison. As far as the New Year’s Eve
celebration, it happens that they both have plans together again.
“I’m going to a party with friends from school,” said Allison.
“I’m her taxi!” said Kenneth.
The honor of very last donor of 2015 went to Sandy Hagen of Tipp City,
who made her 107th lifetime donation before CBC closed for the year.
“I’ve been doing this every New Year’s Eve for 10 years or so,” she
said. “That’s what we do.” Her husband Larry also keeps the
tradition, but this year he has a cold. “I know there are a lot of
accidents on New Year’s Eve,” she said. “Maybe someone will need blood
– hope they don’t – but if they do, we gave blood.”
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