The Gift That Keeps on Giving

January is National Blood Donor Month, and Oconee County residents are honoring that tradition by giving blood locally. 

The East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross has offices and blood donor centers all over Athens, including one not far from the Oconee/Clarke County line, in the Clarke Crossing Shopping Center on Timothy Road.

Here's my account of what it is like to donate blood at the Clarke Crossing center.

I was greeted with big smiles from the volunteers and by a nearly full waiting room. I sat down with Athens/Gainesville District Manager Judy Hall, who said that the presentation of donors in the waiting area was both expected and welcome.

"We've been shut down since Monday due to the weather," Hall said. "We really struggle to meet our goals during bad weather, and this week it was so bad we weren't even able to open."

"The weather here was unprecedented," agreed Athens Donor Center Program Coordinator Linda Rounds. "We weren't able to get the mobile units out or to open our doors, but people have responded to the need."

Donors at the center sign in and are given information to read about donating. A staff member asks a series of questions to assess your eligibility to donate.  Then the staff member checks your blood pressure and pulse, temperature and iron level. 

After the interview and eligibility approval, you're ready to give. Your arm is cleaned and a sterile needle (used once, then discarded) is inserted. The actual donation part only takes about 10 minutes.

After your blood leaves you, it is stored briefly and transported to the Red Cross laboratory. There your blood is separated into its components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. This is what allows your donation to save up to three lives. 

After my donation, I met some outstanding individuals. Like Bernice Clark, a Watkinsville resident and team supervisor at this donor center, who has been in healthcare nearly her entire professional career. Clark said it was a real treat to be assisting in donations.

"I'm usually doing other work," said Clark. "But today because of the volume of donors, I get to be on the floor helping- which I love!"

I also met Clark's son, Adam, a long-time donor who happened to be there during our visit, giving platelets.

And Ryan Fox, another platelet donor and UGA student who says he's given nearly every three weeks for the past two years.

Because platelets regenerate a lot faster than whole blood, Fox has been able to donate more frequently than a blood donor. Whole blood donors have to wait at least eight weeks between donations, whereas platelet donors can give every seven days up to 24 times a year.

"I just like being able to help," said Fox. "And my schedule allows for me to."

Fox is on a donor list with the Athens Red Cross, and on days like this when their offices are trying to recover from a lull, he gets a call to come in and donate, which he always answers.

Another donor I met was Chris Dolvin. Dolvin was donating a double unit of red blood cells. Dolvin, an Oconee County native and volunteer firefighter in the county, is a long-time donor. He and his parents Bobby and Teresa, both Oconee County residents, have been giving for years.

"My parents donate," Dolvin said. "I started giving in high school and have ever since."

Then there's David Nichols, the whole blood donor and father of five who has been giving blood since the mid '90s on a regular basis because of his rare type. Nichols is approaching his "six gallons donated" mark.

No matter which type of donation you choose, it's important to go in prepared.  For a complete list of dos and don'ts, visit the "Frequently Asked Questions" page of the Red Cross website.

Donors must be at least 17 (16 with consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be taking antibiotics.

To donate, call (706) 546-0681 or go online to make an appointment. You can also just walk in. The Athens Donor Center is open Monday through Wednesday, noon to 7 p.m. and Thursday t o Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check the website to see a complete list of hours for each donor center.