Hamilton man honoured after 600th platelet donation
A few hours here and there have added up to a lot.
Hamilton resident Joe Connors gave his first whole blood donation in 1969, becoming a regular donor shortly after. He started giving to the Canadian Blood Services’ platelet program in 1984.
After more than three decades of donations, Connors reached the milestone of 600 platelet donations on June 8.
Platelets help with clotting and are used with patients who experience prolonged bleeding because of diseases like cancer.
Unlike a regular blood donation where the blood is extracted and goes straight into a collection bag, the blood goes through a centrifuge during platelet donations. Only the platelets are collected and the rest of the blood goes back into the donor.
Platelets can be donated every two weeks, while donors must wait at least eight weeks between blood donations.
Connors said he was a blood donor for a while, then “one day while I was in, there was someone on the (platelet donation) machine. I made the mistake of asking what it was,” he joked.
Connors said each donation takes him about two hours and he comes in as regularly as his schedule allows.
When asked why he had dedicated so much time to donating, Connors’ nonchalant reply was, “why volunteer for anything? It works for me and I can do it.”
While he’s giving his donations, Connors will often bring car magazines to read and help pass the time.
“I’m an old car guy,” he said with a smile.
His collection includes his grandfather’s 1925 Chevrolet sedan — a work in progress — and a 1940 Willys sedan.
Other times, he’ll visit with one of the other regular platelet donors, Ken Mann.
“A lot of times, we’re donating together,” said Mann, who has made around 180 donations.
After Connors’ 600th donation, Michael Betel, director of donor relations for Canadian Blood Services, presented him with a special pin at a celebration at the Hamilton blood donor clinic in Ancaster.