95-Year-Old Navy Veteran Continues to Serve via Lifetime of Blood Donations

95-Year-Old Navy Veteran Continues to Serve via Lifetime of Blood Donations

Among the many bits of wisdom shared by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a question he posed during one of his sermons: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"  

For James Reed, that is a question he has answered many times, in many ways.

Reed, a 95-year-old Navy veteran, has been a blood donor for nearly his entire adult life, recently surpassing the 22-gallon mark for his donations.  Because he donates blood roughly every two months, he’s become a familiar and popular face for the staff at the Red Cross Mobile site on University Avenue in Rochester, as a large group gathers around him to catch up as his phlebotomist sets up his donation process. 

Reed regales them with stories of his service in the Navy and then jokes about the donation “competition” he has with his 59-year-old son, who is a platelet donor.

A native of Bristol Valley, NY, approximately 30 miles south of Rochester, Reed shared some of the humble memories of his early years.

“I was six years old when we got electricity in our house,” he recalls, “and my first seven years of school were in a one-room schoolhouse.”

From his parents, he learned lessons that he would carry throughout his lifetime, including the concept of being of service to others.  His inspiration in becoming a blood donor was influenced in part by his mother’s history of donating.

“My mother had done it (donating blood) but had to stop when she was 72.”

After completing high school, Reed volunteered to enlist in the U.S. Navy, in the early stages of the Korean War (“I felt it was right to volunteer your time for Uncle Sam,” he states casually.).  He was initially assigned to a repair ship based in Newport, Rhode Island.  His concern for others quickly emerged while stationed on the ship.  One of his crewmates, who was married with a young child, was going to be reassigned to another ship and port and was distraught about being separated from his wife and child.  Reed saw this and approached one of his commanding officers and volunteered to take his shipmate’s new assignment, on an icebreaker that made frequent trips to clear paths approaching the North Pole, where submarines might travel.  

“If I could stop him from being separated from his wife and baby, I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Before completing his military service, Reed also started his blood donation journey.

“An officer’s wife was ill and in need of blood transfusions. An officer in the medical department made me aware that I had the right blood type to donate.  I was glad I did it.” 

After his discharge from the Navy and after earning a degree at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology), Reed continued to live a life of service to others, leading the Monroe County Department of Social Services. Heading a department that provides services to more than 50,000 individuals each year was a heavy load, and a personal tragedy led Reed to evaluate where he wanted to spend his time.

“My sister died of cancer at 42, leaving behind four boys. She died in June and in August of that year her 17-year-old boy was killed by a drunk driver running a red light.  On the way home from the funeral, I looked in the back seat at my two boys and told my wife ‘these guys are only young once, and I’m bringing home work every night.’”

A leader at RIT’s Business School informed Reed of an opportunity to bring his leadership skills and desire to be of service to others to the not-for-profit sector, which led him to being appointed as Director of Family Services of Rochester. After overseeing an expansion of that agency’s social services program, Reed retired in 1994. 

Still not finished giving back, he volunteered at Lifetime Care, serving as a hospice volunteer. After stepping away for a time to care for his wife, who had been diagnosed with Multi Systems Apathy (MSA), a degenerative disease similar to ALS, Reed returned to his volunteer role after her death in 2001.  To this day, he still volunteers and leads small group bereavement sessions.

As for his commitment to donating blood, the fulfillment he felt after that initial donation during his service in the U.S. Navy has remained with him to the present.

“I always have a good feeling that somebody is being helped and it doesn’t cost me anything,” he says.

Reed is also thrilled that he now receives information on where his donations are being used.

“The last time I gave I got a message that it went to a young boy who had a (medical) problem. I remember saying my prayers and thanking God for my being able to help that boy.”

Written by: Michael Tedesco, Regional Communications Director, American Red Cross of WNY

Cortland Blood Donor Receives Pleasant Surprise as Peanuts™ Contest Winner

When Natalie Travis made plans to donate blood on April 28 at the Cortland (NY) Community blood drive, little did she know the surprise that was eventually in store. 

To be sure, the McGraw, NY resident likely knew of the Peanuts/Snoopy ™ t-shirt incentive for those who showed up to donate, and which had gone viral, but she was not aware of an even bigger incentive that was there as well. 

As part of a national promotion, and thanks to the generosity of Peanuts Worldwide – one of the many partners who offer incentives to support Red Cross blood donations – Natalie emerged as the winner of  the Red Cross’  2023 Sonoma County Trip Giveaway. All who came to give blood in April were automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night trip for two to Sonoma County, California. The Getaway includes flights, hotel, $1,000 gift card and special tours of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Snoopy’s Home Ice, courtesy of Peanuts Worldwide. Natalie and her family departed for their trip on July 5.

Any national contest means that the odds of winning are long, so it is somewhat fitting that Natalie won since her blood type is also rare.  In fact, the desire to know her blood type is what drove her to be a blood donor as a young adult.

"I started giving blood when I was 17,” she said. “I always wanted to know my blood type and I knew if I gave blood I would find out.  I found out that I was type AB-, which is really rare.”

When she found out she had a blood type that was in high demand, Natalie made it a point to be a regular donor.

“I tried to do it a couple of times a year until I had my son.  He’s five now, so it had been that many years until I donated again.”

That April donation in Cortland was the first since her son was born, and it turned out to be a mutually beneficial return….especially when she found out she won the Sonoma trip.

“At first I was really shocked because I was only going to give blood (not knowing about the promotion). Then I started having regular communication with Adam (Adam Turner, a Red Cross staffer) and thought it was really cool.  I told my son, and he was really excited because he has never flown before, and he likes anything with motors.”

So, what would Natalie say to anyone who has not considered donating blood, or might be nervous about the prospect of doing so?

“Any experience that I’ve had, I find the people collecting blood to be really good at what they do. It doesn’t take very long and your blood could help a lot of people.”

 

As nephew battles pediatric cancer, blood donations take on special meaning for Gates woman

It was a normal day at the office when I virtually “connected” with Lisa Bubel in March. 

The Spencerport native and mother of four tagged the Red Cross in a photo on our Twitter account. It was a picture of Bubel donating blood, part of a series of regular appointments the One Gallon donor proudly keeps.

What struck me, though, was that she also posted a photo of a young boy receiving blood – her two-year-old nephew Landon, currently battling cancer.

“I’m donating and I find out that my nephew is receiving blood at the exact same time,” Bubel explained. “It hit the heartstrings even more.”

Bubel is acutely aware of the lifesaving impact donating blood can have. Donating for the first time nearly 15 years ago, the lieutenant with the Rochester Fire Department and part-time Emergency Medical Technician, says she sees the critical need on an almost daily basis.

“So many people need it, people you don’t even realize. We need the blood supplies in stock and ready to go. God forbid there is a major disaster or injuries, you need it for that. But also cancer patients and people with various illnesses. It’s so important to have it in stock.”

Diagnosed at four months old after his parents discovered a lump on his nose, Bubel says Landon is in his second round of treatment and has received blood and platelets several times throughout his fight. Since then, donating blood has become something of a family tradition with future plans to hold a drive in Landon’s honor.

“It makes it much more meaningful when you know someone who has needed a transfusion. I know he’s not getting my blood, but I know that when I’m donating that it’s going to be used. He’s had times where they’ve needed to send him in now to get it. So I have that personal understanding of what it means to have everything stocked up and ready to go when its needed.”

That need, as Bubel well knows will become even more critical as we head into the summer months. As people resume normal summer activities, the likelihood that blood donor turnout and the blood supply is impacted becomes even greater. Every two seconds someone in the United States is in need of lifesaving blood and donating blood or platelets is not only an easy way to give back, but also to make a difference for those in need – people like Landon.

That’s why Bubel is encouraging family and friends to donate as often as they can. For her part, she’s even turned it into a friendly competition racking up badges on the Red Cross Blood Donor app and comparing milestones with loved ones.

“I can’t talk enough about the app! You can pre-register, fill in questions and schedule your appointment with the click of a button. I schedule my appointment before I walk from donating, it’s so easy,” Bubel laughed. “It’s just that first step of going into the unknown. Take that first step and donate. It’s helping so many people and it’s just so worth it.”

Worth it, indeed.

You can make an appointment to donate blood and provide help and hope to patients like Landon by visiting RedCrossBlood.org

 

Red Cross team member shares ‘full circle’ experiences that inspire her to give back

Sarah Judkins says she didn’t fully appreciate the constant need for blood donors – even when she began working for the American Red Cross.

It wasn’t until a year later when she was called away from work at a blood drive due to a family emergency. She learned that her brother was experiencing complications from a planned surgical procedure, and upon arriving at the hospital still wearing her scrubs from the blood drive, the first thing she saw hanging over his bed was a unit of donated blood.

It was at that moment Sarah made a deep-rooted connection. “This is what I do every day, and now it has touched my family personally,” she recalled thinking at the time. She says her brother would’ve lost his life that day had he not received multiple blood transfusions made possible by volunteer blood donors.

Sarah experienced additional “full circle” moments years later when her mother, Jane, who suffered from a degenerative bone disease, went to the hospital for a seventh hip surgery and needed platelets in order to move forward with the procedure. Eight months later, Jane again received donor blood in the form of plasma, platelets and red cells when she underwent open heart surgery.

A regular donor herself, Sarah currently gives platelets and plasma and has rolled up her sleeves 14 times already this year alone in order to make a difference for others facing the unexpected.

This summer, Sarah honored the anniversary of her mother’s passing by donating blood, accompanied by an unusual guest, “Phyllis the Flamingo” (pictured). Phyllis was a gift from Sarah’s mother – renowned for practical jokes – and ended up being the last gift her mother ever gave her. Around the time Sarah received Phyllis, her mother was unable to join the family on a summer vacation, so Phyllis came along for the journey instead.  Sarah documented it all in a special photo album that was gifted back to Jane to help lift her spirits on the morning of her cardiac surgery.

Today, Sarah says she looks at Phyllis and smiles not only remembering her mother, but also celebrating the precious gift of time that blood donors gave her family for the eight months between her mother’s surgeries.

She finds meaning working with Red Cross collections team because it places her close to the organization’s mission and allows her to help ensure donors have a great experience and return for future donations. During this uncertain time, the Red Cross needs healthy, eligible individuals to give blood or platelets for patients battling disease and facing the unexpected, now and in the weeks and months to come. 

Appointments can be scheduled through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED-CROSS.

"Not every family is touched by the need for blood and my family was impacted by blood donors more than once,” Sarah remarked. “Next time it may be someone else’s family who has that critical need and I want to be sure I am doing my part to be there for them.”

Story by: Katie Potter, American Red Cross 

Western New York Region Remembers John "Jack" Miller

 

Jack Miller: December 13, 1928 - July 22, 2020

"Take an hour to save a life." That was the self-proclaimed motto of Jack Miller, an Auburn resident and lifelong American Red Cross blood donor and volunteer. Jack passed away in July, leaving behind his loving wife and family, and an incredible legacy of community giving.  

Jack started donating blood in 1949 while attending the University of Pennsylvania. By the time he retired from Sylvania Electronics Corporation, Jack had donated 104 pints of blood, an impressive 13 gallons! In his retirement, Jack began to dedicate even more time to the Red Cross by becoming a volunteer with the Cayuga County blood services team. 

He began his support of the organization phoning donors, coordinating blood drives, and transporting donations, all while continuing to roll up his own sleeve to give the gift of life anytime he was eligible. In June 2000, after 52 years and 340 units donated (120 whole blood, 143 platelet, and 77 plasma), Jack was deferred indefinitely due to a condition that required he take blood thinning medication.

Jack viewed his inability to continue to give blood as simply “another door opening.” That same year, he turned his time and tireless efforts each and every month toward managing a regular blood drive held at the United Methodist Church in Auburn. This special drive soon became known as “Jack’s Drive,” the output of which he proudly grew by more than double, consistently averaging 100 donors or more and impacting tens of thousands of lives over the years.

Jack knew how important his drive was to our blood supply, and in turn he was known to run a tight ship. Each month, he made over 300 calls to area donors – some multiple times – to ensure his drive would be a success. He ran registration and would make sure there were copies of the local paper on hand just in case of a wait. After each month’s drive, Jack sent personal thank you letters and recognized milestone donations.

“When I think about Jack, it brings a smile to my face. I can still see him with one of his many Red Cross T-shirts on, which he wore with such pride,” said Roberta Kryk, a Red Cross Account Manager in Rochester.

As time passed and Jack began stepping back from his 110% hands-on approach, he would still stop in each month with his wife, Dot, to ensure things were running to his expectations (and collect his favorite Cheez-Its from the refreshment area).

“Jack’s commitment to the local blood donors and hospital recipients is well-known and respected by many. His personal touch and sense of caring paired with a tenacious spirit made him a shining star in our Red Cross family, and he will be greatly missed” said Shawn O’Hargan, Regional Market Manager, American Red Cross Blood Services.

Over the years, he built a resume of accolades including Volunteer of the Year (2001-2002), Individual Outstanding Contributions Award (2004), Blood Services Volunteer Award and Real Heroes Blood Donor Award (2013).

The Red Cross will hold a blood drive in Jack’s memory in the coming months at the Auburn United Methodist Church where his monthly drive took place, honoring his more than two decades stewarding the Red Cross’ lifesaving mission.

The Miller family has asked that any contributions in Jack’s memory be made to the American Red Cross, 825 John Street, West Henrietta, NY 14586 (Memo: In Memory of Jack Miller).

Story by: Katie Potter, American Red Cross 

COVID-19 Drives Board Member to Donate Blood After 30-Year Hiatus

WNY Chapter Board Member, Mark Meyerhofer,
donating blood at the Union Road Donation Center
in Cheektowaga in June 2020

Mark Meyerhofer, a Board Member with the American Red Cross, Western New York Chapter, donated blood last month for the first time since he was in high school. He was understandably hesitant throughout the years after fainting the last time around. Now, just over 30 years later, he decided to give it another shot. 

The Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood drives continue to be canceled as many businesses and community organizations remain closed, but locations still welcoming donors are taking extensive precautions to help minimize the possibility of exposure and keep donors safe. In other words, there is no better time than now to take action, and Meyerhofer answered the call. 

“Right away, they put you at ease,” said Meyerhofer. “The door is locked when you arrive, someone comes out to escort you, they check your temperature at the door and again when you are doing your screening. They went above and beyond and I want to stress that.”

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. To ensure the health of staff and donors, precautions include:

• Checking temperatures of staff and donors before entering a drive to make sure they are healthy. 
• Providing hand sanitizer for use before entering the drives, as well as throughout the donation process.
• Following social distancing between donors including entry, donation and refreshment areas.
• Ensuring face masks or coverings are worn by both staff and donors.
• Routinely disinfecting surfaces, equipment and donor-touched areas.

While tens of thousands of donors gave blood in response to an initial blood shortage caused by this coronavirus outbreak, it’s important to remember that red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days of donation and platelets within just five days, so they must constantly be replenished.

In retrospect, Meyerhofer decided to donate at the perfect time. 

“By the time I went to donate, we were at the point of elective surgeries restarting and of course you need blood supply for that,” said Meyerhofer. 

And this time, things went much smoother as his fears of fainting subsided. 

“I am happy to do it, and it was a good experience. I already signed up for my next appointment in August!”

Meyerhofer has held a position on the Red Cross WNY Chapter Board since the fall of 2019. He currently works at Charter Communications in Buffalo, NY as the director of government relations. He began collaborating with the Red Cross when Charter Communications sponsored the Red Cross’ annual Sound the Alarm event in early 2018.

Meyerhofer’s reasons for accepting the board position and donating again go beyond the ramifications of COVID-19. Supporting those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces has always been part of the mission of the Red Cross, and that resonated with Meyerhofer. 

“My father, who passed away almost a year ago, served in the Korean War and he had always talked about his affinity for the Red Cross because they had helped him when he was deployed and needed to get back home to his father who had fallen ill,” said Meyerhofer. “My dad had said all of his life that he would continue to give to the Red Cross until his dying days in return for what they did for him. It was always near and dear to him, therefore there had always been that personal connection for me.”

Meyerhofer encourages anyone who is considering donating, or like himself, has not donated in a long time, to start the conversation and hear others’ experiences. 

“It’s about finding a way to help out and give back,” said Meyerhofer. “I love that you are able to track exactly where your blood goes through the app, it makes it even more rewarding.”

You can download the Red Cross Blood Donor App today and schedule an appointment. As a humanitarian organization, we are committed to helping others in meaningful ways during this pandemic. The Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies to provide donors insight into whether they may have been exposed to this coronavirus. To learn more, visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Story by: Nicole Mauro, American Red Cross

Communications Volunteer

Providing Customer Service as a Blood Services Volunteer

“I bring to my job, whatever I do, the customer service I learned at Wegmans,” says Red Cross volunteer, Sue Kirkland. “Treat customers the way I would hope they would treat me.”

Sue Kirkland and her canine companion Susie

After retiring from Wegmans in 2018, Kirkland immediately restarted an old habit that dated back to her high school days: donating blood every two months. While donating on February 6, she mentioned to one of the Red Cross team members that she’d be interested in becoming a volunteer as well.

“I came on board just in time for COVID!”, Kirkland said. She was scheduled to work in her initial role as a Blood Donor Ambassador at Kenmore West High School in Western New York the first day the Red Cross began requiring health screenings for staff and donors prior to entering a blood drive to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. She stepped in as Blood Drive Screener that day, asking health questions, taking temperatures and providing hand sanitizer for everyone as they entered the drive.

“Baptism by fire,” Kirkland says. “I just did it, then it became the norm.” Of course, there is very little normal about these uncertain times, and additional precautions have since been added to ensure the safety of everyone entering any Red Cross facility or community blood drive, including wearing face masks. Kirkland says everyone has been grateful for the safety measures the Red Cross has implemented, including herself.

“At one of the first drives, someone pointed out that I’m in a higher risk group being over 60, and asked if I felt comfortable,” she says. “I feel confident in what I’ve been doing to keep myself safe so that I can keep others safe.”

Kirkland also says she’s comfortable in knowing that the Red Cross staff, especially her supervisor, Aaron Wilson, will be there to support her if she ever does have a question or concern. She says the staff and her fellow volunteers have been phenomenal during this outbreak, and on the rare times during her 1-2 volunteer shifts a week when a team member or donor is having a bad day, her customer service background kicks in.

“We’re all feeling a little lost, isolated,” Kirkland says. “I keep in mind that people are coming out trying to help, so I’ll bend over backwards and try to meet them where they are.”

If you’re looking for a way to help, and get out of the house during this coronavirus outbreak, consider joining Sue Kirkland as a Blood Drive or Facilities Screener, asking health questions and taking temperatures with an infrared thermometer as people enter Red Cross facilities or blood drives. There are shifts available across the Western New York region, click this link for more information. And thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Sue, you can also safely make a donation appointment for the weeks ahead to ensure a stable blood supply throughout this pandemic at redcrossblood.org

Story by: Jay Bonafede, Chief Communications Officer

American Red Cross, Western New York Region