Q: Why are you donating blood today?
A: Because I have had family and friends who have needed blood and I know it’s an easy thing to do when you’re capable.
Q: Why have you come back to give blood?
A: I guess because it was easy for me over the years so I felt it would be a shame not to since I was able to.
On a side note, this was Kathleen's 49th time giving blood. I have a ways to go before I hit that number!
Q: Why are you donating blood?
A: My best friend had cancer and this is my way of helping him and to give back. Plus my father is a cardiologist and he gives blood. So I thought I'd do it as well.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: "Well when I was early in age I saw there was a demand for it and not many people were doing it so that’s why I started doing it and when I got into it I had a nephew die of leukemia and in fact was more reason for doing it. There’s still a need for it and as long as I could do it, I’ll be doing it".
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: "I used to donate blood when I was in university and then they said I could donate platelets so I’ve just been doing it ever since and it’s not too bad. It only takes an hour, hour and half. So it’s pretty good. I do it every two weeks".
A repeat platelet customer. This is Robert. I sketched him in one of my earlier sessions and at the time of this sketch, this was his 296th time donating platelets. Wowza.
Among some of the donors, there seems to be some friendly competition on who could donate the most.
Q: "Why are you donating platelets today"?
A: "I started donating blood when I was a teenager I guess. It just seemed like the right thing to do. And then years later they told me because of my rare blood type that I was much more suited to donate platelets more often and it could be donated to more and more people. So that’s why I decided to do the platelet route.
I think I’m currently up to three hundred and thirty something donations. So my quote, product, is tolerated by recipients. It doesn’t have to be matched genetically. So it’s able to be donated to more and more people rather than having a specific code. So the recipient's body doesn’t reject the cells. So I donate as often as I can for that reason. It just makes you feel good".
Q: "Why are you donating platelets today"?
A: "Well actually it started quite a few years ago when I started with donating blood and I found out about the platelet program. And at that time there weren’t a lot of people giving platelets. More people were giving blood so I thought I’d switch over to that. And I just think it’s such an easy thing to do, to help people. It’s a couple hours of your time and it could help a lot of people. So I come every two weeks and hope that it’s going to make a difference in somebody’s life. It’s an easy way to do that".
Q: "Why are you donating blood today"?
A: "It’s a simple and easy thing to do. I’m good at it. In the sense that it’s fast for me and I feel no side effects from it. I’m a good candidate for it".
On a personal note, I could confirm that Nathan is a fast donor. In my short experience of sketching blood donors, on average, they're in the chair for about 10 minutes. Nathan took about 5 minutes to give blood, but he was kind enough to sit for a few more minutes after he finished donating. Thanks, Nathan!
Q: "Why are you donating platelets today"?
A: "Because my best friend passed away from a heart attack a few years ago and I decided to start making a contribution to people who are suffering from chronic illnesses and other conditions like that".
Q: "Is this your first time contributing"?
A: "No, this is my 19th or 20th time".
Q: "Why are you donating platelets today"?
A: "I grew up in a hospital so I see the impact".
Q: "Is this your first time donating platelets"?
A: "No, I’m a frequent donor".
Q: "Why are you donating platelets today"?
A: "Because I think it’s important to help people in need of something that can only be given by the body. Like you just can’t give money and people will synthesize something. People have to make that commitment and it’s something that people really need to help in their treatment for cancer and various other things".
Q: "Why are you donating blood today"?
A: "Well 22 years ago my son was born extremely prematurely. He was saved by 5 blood transfusions and at that point I just had to pay back. Those people who saved my son… I try to do something. I know how important it is".
Q: "Why are you donating platelets today"?
A: "Because I use platelets in my job and I just want to make it neutral. Donate and use at the same time".
Q: "And what is you job"?
A: "Paramedic. Air ambulance".
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: I’ve been doing it for 20 years and it’s a classic story. My nephew needed platelets and so I started giving, knowing that he’s not getting mine but he’s getting somebody else's. And I’ve continued giving platelets and he died twenty years ago. This is him… (laughter)
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: I was a blood donor before. I started donating blood since 2011. There was a reason behind it because we are running the biggest campaign as a Sikh nation. We are running a campaign against genocide. So we donate every November as a community. I just become apart of that campaign in 2011 and I believe this is a generous cause, like people needed these things. It’s just free. I think you could make a difference in that community. And plus you can, there’s a purpose behind it like we want to,… we started that campaign in 1999 with one person. And now since 1999 to 2018 this is Canada’s biggest donor campaign, blood donation. So that’s why I got attached to the blood donation. Our purpose is to send the message to all of mankind. You know what you don’t need to ruin the blood, right? When you see the genocide a lot of people get killed and blood get ruined up. There’s the biggest genocide happened with our community in India in 1984, in November, our whole community was [ranced] because of the [hatrists]. So we said you know what. You guys take our lives so we want to give life back. So that’s the reason why I got attached with this campaign. And after that, I found my blood group is AB positive and I just requested that can I just become a platelet because I know a lot of people are suffering from cancers and severe burns and they need our help. If I give a few hours every two weeks and serve the community for a couple of days or couple of months extra life, I think I make the difference in the community so that’s what I believe and become a donor and I’m very proud to become a donor. Thank you.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: Well because it’s a useful thing to do, I think.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: Years ago my father had 2 surgeries. An aneurysm and open heart surgery and when that happens they try to get somebody to start donating regularly. That’s basically what got me going.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: I always donate. Everybody’s gotta do something and this is one of the volunteer things I do. And then I could watch my operas and get coffee and stuff. I was sorta thinking, you know, I don’t do any mentoring kids or any visits to old folks homes but this is what I do. Other people do other things. I got into the habit years ago so I just keep on doing it. Also you get health monitoring like they test your blood for all kinds of stuff. So they’re gonna catch something if you’re, you know… it’s kind of a benefit for me.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: It’s a way I could give back. It doesn’t take much of my time and it really makes a big difference for a number of people.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: Basically to pass it forward. A lot of people in my family died of cancer or have cancer. And some have received platelets over a time and this is my way of passing it forward.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: My wife had donated platelets quite a few years ago, more than 25 years ago and then she had kids and couldn’t donate anymore. So I thought I’d carry it on and I found out I have good quality platelets and I thought if I could help someone then why not and it’s been carried on since then.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: Partially to give back but also to compete with friends. I’m in a race for my 50 card with some friends.
Q: What number are you at now?
A: Today was number 40.
Q: Why are you donating platelets today?
A: I was asked to (laughter). They told me I was one of the few who could so I thought OK this is a more useful way, more convenient and more often way I could actually donate.
I lost my wife and I’m just paying it forward.
Lenny donated 3,600,000,000,000 platelets that day.