‘He’s saved so many lives’
Ewen Stewart, who is 84, reaches 900 blood and plasma donations
Ewen Stewart needed only a gentle nudge to give blood more than 65 years ago.
Giving the gift of life has never stopped being a breeze.
“I didn’t think twice,’’ said Stewart, 84, of Stanhope.
“It didn’t hurt and I’ve been going ever since.’’
He gave 134 donations of blood before switching to plasma donations.
Last Tuesday, he made his 766th plasma donation, bringing his combined blood and plasma donations to a remarkable 900.
“It’s amazing,’’ says Sheila McKillop, a phlebotomist with Canadian Blood Services in Charlottetown. “He’s saved so many lives.’’ Stewart averages 40 plasma donations per year, spending a good 90 minutes each trip.
While donors as a rule do not know who receives their blood or plasma, Stewart did learn once that a friend received his blood. The friend regularly thanked him for saving his life.
“I knew this person real well,’’ notes Stewart.
“It was wonderful. It made it all worthwhile.’’
He adds there is always a need
“I didn’t think twice. It didn’t hurt and I’ve been going ever since.’’ Ewen Stewart
for plasma, so he will continue to donate as long as he can.
Stewart, who keeps in shape by frequently cycling, views hitting the 1,000 mark in donations of blood and plasma as an attainable goal.
“I will take it one donation at a time,’’ he adds.
Stewart says staff makes his visits to Canadian Blood Services an enjoyable experience.
“Look, they are really wonderful,’’ he says.
“I get the royal treatment every time I come.’’
McKillop says Stewart is always a welcome, friendly face.
“He’s become like part of our family,’’ she says.
“He’s always so positive. Ewen is an important part of my work week.’’