Donating blood can leave some people queasy, but for Joan McGorman, 72, this will be the 50th time she has donated at Canadian Blood Services in Saanich.
McGorman started donating in 1973 after she had major knee surgery on her hip and required four units of blood twice receiving a total of eight units.
“It is quite a lot of blood, through transfusion, and when I was able to and healthy enough to donate blood, I did,” explained McGorman.
She said it is easy to donate blood and that it is a minor inconvenience, but it helps many people.
“Women can donate every three months, and men can donate every two months.”
On March 5, McGorman donated at the same as her friend Floralove Katz in Ottawa, who will be giving for the 150th time.
“She has been doing it all her life, and there was a time she also donated plasma,” exclaimed McGorman.
Katz’s family has long been involved in some aspects of blood donation, as her father was one of Canada’s pioneering biomedical engineers.
“Not only did he invent the first heart-lung pump for open heart surgery, but also the first fetal monitor, baby incubator, the first cardiac pacemaker,” said Katz.
She said that less than four per cent of people who are eligible to donate actually roll up their sleeves and give.
“It is needed. Surgeries are cancelled if there is not enough (blood).”
According to Anne Chabert, the Victoria manager of Canadian Blood Services, the clinic in Saanich is a well-oiled machine.
“We collect blood every day. We have 100 folks daily donating, but more than 150 people every day hoping to receive blood.”
She said the Canadian Blood Services is constantly updating the requirements for donating, and as technology has improved, what might have prevented people in the past from donating might not exist anymore.
McGorman said there was no inconvenience with donating blood and the whole experience lasted minutes.
“It is an easy thing. It is just a little poke.”
To donate blood, please call
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