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Clark makes milestone 600th blood donation
DAYTON, Ohio – Wendell Clark seemed bewildered when he emerged from
screening prior to his milestone 600th lifetime blood donation and was
greeted by cheering donors and Community Blood Center (CBC) staff
members Thursday, Oct. 24. He walked past them into the Donor Room,
where he found the wall above his donor bed plastered with 600 paper
dolls with blood drop heads. “It’s just another donation!” he said,
smiling shyly with embarrassment.
Wendell did expect some fanfare for his milestone. He’s been an
ambassador for CBC who has thrown out the first pitch at a Dayton
Dragons game and been honored as a “Community All-Star.” Still, he was
surprised by the TV news cameras and interviews. “I guess I’ve been
blessed and been pretty healthy,” he explained. “It’s just something I
can do to help out my fellow man.”
Wendell started donating in the early 80’s and had made 74 whole blood
donations before being asked to become an apheresis donor by
Collections Services Director Kay Ollech. He commonly donates platelets
which are critically needed by cancer patients, transplant recipients,
and trauma victims. His AB-positive blood type makes him a universal
platelet donor.
“You’re the one that kept coming after we got you in here that first
time,” Kay said to Wendell as she presented him with a “Donor for Life
– 600 LTD” certificate, “and you’ve been coming ever since.”
Wendell is also a CMV-negative donor, which makes his donations
important for transfusion to newborns, people with weakened immune
systems, and organ transplant patients. One of his proudest
accomplishments was donating specifically for a little Centerville girl
named Molly who needed blood during bone marrow transplants, and seeing
her grow healthy.
Wendell lives in Lewisburg and works at Neaton Auto Products
Manufacturing in Eaton. His appointment routine is to go directly from
work to the Dayton CBC. He enjoys reading during his platelet donations
and his favorite author is Louis L’Amour. That inspired the western
theme for his celebration party, including a bright red cowboy hat and
a giant “600” made of cupcakes.
On July 25, 2011 when Wendell was honored at the Dayton Dragons
baseball game he had made 535 lifetime donations and said, “My goal is
to hit 600, but if I can stay healthy, I can hit 800.” With 600
accomplished he can get back to making “just another donation,” perhaps
saving another life, and taking the first step to his next milestone.
Visit the all new www.GivingBlood.org
A new world of communications and service is waiting at our completely
redesigned website www.GivingBlood.org. Get fast and complete answers
on how to make your first donation, organize a blood drive, or bring
our education program to your school. Get all the updates in the
CBC/CTS newsroom, find quick links to our social media pages, or
schedule your next appointment to donate by connecting to
www.DonorTime.com.
Blood donation requirements: Donors are required to provide a photo ID
that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring
their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 16 years of age (16
years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org
or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110
pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines
periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to
email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1(800)388-GIVE. Make an appointment
at www.DonorTime.com.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services® is an independent,
not-for-profit organization. Community Blood Center provides blood
products to 24 hospitals within a 15-county service area in the Miami
(Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services®, visit
www.givingblood.org.
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