Nathan Jeffers
njeffers@heartlandpublications.com
POINT PLEASANT — Pat Wilson, of Leon, recently reached a milestone that not too many can say they’ve accomplished.
Wilson recently donated blood at the Pleasant Valley Hospital (PVH) Auxiliary Blood Drive at Trinity United Methodist Church, and this donation marks 17 gallons of blood that he has donated throughout his lifetime. Wilson stated he first started donating blood when he was a senior in high school in 1960, and added that he donates every chance he gets. According to the American Red Cross, a person can donate every 56 days, which is also around the same amount of time between the PVH Auxiliary blood drives.
“When they’re here, I’m here,” Wilson said about the Auxiliary blood drives.
Wilson said he donates blood for many reasons. The first being the obvious reason, because people need blood. He also said it makes him feel better. He explained that when one donates blood, the body has to replace the hemoglobin taken, and the new hemoglobin helps transfer oxygen throughout the body better.
Wilson also stated he encourages others to donate blood often as well.
“I’ve seen lives saved by it,” Wilson said. “I urge anyone that’s physically able to do it. It’s painless, and you get free food.”
Wilson stated that he plans to continue donating blood for as long as he can, and his next goal is to reach 20 gallons.
Toni Scarberry with the PVH Auxiliary stated the next blood drive will be sometime in July. Scarberry also added they are low on O positive and O negative blood. The auxiliary’s blood drives are always held from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church.
In addition to waiting every 56 days, other eligibility requirements for donating blood include the donor has to be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. For further information on donating blood, visit www.redcrossblood.org.
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