And it all began in 1971 with a college student who wanted to go home early. Christiane Hughes was attending school in Syracuse when a blood drive offered students a pretty appealing incentive: donate blood and go home for the rest of the day. She decided to give it a try.
When staff had trouble finding her vein, Christiane jokingly gave them a limit. “Three times and I’m out of here!” She stayed. What started as a lighthearted reason to leave school early became something much bigger. More than 50 years later, Christiane has now reached 25 gallons of blood donated through the American Red Cross.
In many ways, that kind of giving fits naturally into the rest of Christiane’s life. For more than 20 years, she has fostered cats and kittens in need. When the call comes asking whether she can help, Christiane’s answer has often been yes. She and her family have also raised dogs through Guiding Eyes for the Blind, caring for and training them before eventually letting them go on to serve someone who needed their assistance. That same instinct to give carries into her work. For the past seven years, Christiane has served as a purchasing agent with The Arc Otsego, where she also teaches stained glass classes.
For someone who considers herself reserved, Christiane has quietly spent much of her life stepping forward when there is an opportunity to help. Her blood donation journey followed much the same pattern. Christiane tried to donate regularly over the years, although work, raising a family and everyday responsibilities sometimes got in the way. “Life gets messy,” she said.
But the interruptions never became a reason to stop. When the Red Cross contacted her and there was a need for blood, Christiane would carve out the time and, as she put it, “just kept movin’.”
Eventually, the gallons began to add up. About 10 years ago, she challenged herself to reach 20 gallons donated. She did it. Then, with the same humor that has followed her since her first Syracuse blood drive, Christiane decided there was no reason to stop there. “Well, okay. My new goal is 25!” Now, she has reached that milestone too. “I personally can’t believe it,” she said.
Over the decades, Christiane has also watched the donation experience change. One change she especially values is the communication donors now receive about their blood after giving. Technology allows donors to receive general updates about where a donation has traveled and that it has been sent somewhere to meet a need. For Christiane, that small connection to the life of a donation has made a lasting impression. “It warms my heart to know it’s being used and where it’s going,” she said.
That may be the best way to describe Christiane’s approach to giving: no fanfare, no expectation of recognition, just a willingness to help wherever she can and to “just keep movin’.”
Written by: Cinnamon Morris, Communications Volunteer, American Red Cross of WNY
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