Thicker than water
Father-daughter duo make 200th blood donation
A father-daughter duo from Medicine Hat are celebrating their combined 200th blood donation; an achievement they hope will motivate others to donate as the need for blood grows.
Randy and Sonia Laughlin were met with congratulations from staff and fellow donors Monday, as they moved through the Canadian Blood Services’ mobile donor centre. The pair — who both started donating blood in their teens — have long been regulars at the centre and were glad to share in the milestone together.
“We’ve known for a couple of years it would eventually come, so we’ve kind of been keeping track of where we each were,” Randy told the News.
Despite knowing they would soon pass the 200th combined donation, the Laughlins were pleasantly surprised to find they had coincidentally been scheduled for the same date and time slot — a rare occurrence as differing donor regulations for men and women often result in them operating on different eligibility schedules.
“It’s been a fun day,” said Randy. “And it matters. It makes a difference. I think all of those who can give something to our communities, should. So, this is the thing we do.”
A donor of more than 40 years, Randy first gave blood on a dare, but said he kept up with it because of the impact it has for individuals who are ill or injured.
“When I went up to Lethbridge several years ago to receive a Canadian Blood Services Award, there was a 26 year-old leukemia survivor, who was alive because of people who had donated blood,” he said. “She had received multiple transfusions in her life, and she wouldn’t have stood in front of us that day if it weren’t for us.”
Having long witnessed her father’s commitment to blood donation and seeing firsthand the impact it has, Sonia shares a passion for the cause.
“I’m an LPN,” Sonia said. “I have given patients units of blood and seen how it makes them feel better, or it gives them extra time. So to me, it’s just something very important.”
Now a donor for over half her life, Sonia says she hopes she and her father can inspire others to donate, especially as Canadian
Blood Services put out earlier this week it is experiencing critically low inventory levels of blood and plasma.
“(Blood donation) impacts so many people and they don’t realize it,” said Sonia. “We’ve all had a family member who’s had surgery, or an injury, or a cesarean-section. And there’s a lot of disease processes where (people) need blood transfusions every once in a while. And cancer patients need it on a regular basis... So, I’m always encouraging people to donate.”
Randy also promotes donation whenever he can.
“You should never take more than you give so I think we should all try it,” he said. “I think we should all make a difference if we can.”
The pair — both B negative whole blood donors — say they understand the hesitation regarding blood donation for some, but assure others the process is quick, most often painless and can even be fun when an element of challenge is added. Although the Laughlins are each others’ biggest supporters, they are also fierce competitors when it comes to who can fill the bag the fastest. Randy was Monday’s champion, completing his donation in seven minutes and 20 seconds; while Sonia took seven minutes, 48 seconds.
While Randy and Sonia look toward their next milestone of 250 combined donations, they are simultaneously planning to challenge those they know to donate blood.
Canadian Blood Services reports only four per cent of Canadians eligible to donate blood, actually do — a number which has likely decreased as the organization is currently operating at its lowest donor base in over a decade.
Blood inventory levels have dropped as a result, with the organization reporting on Aug. 5 it had only three days worth of O positive and O negative blood left in its inventory, and five days of all other blood types. The organization is currently seeking 10,000 new donors to fill the ongoing shortage.
For more information, or to register as a donor visit www.blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283).