While the average blood donor may donate a couple of times a year for a handful of years, racking up maybe one or two gallons over their lifetime, a Magoffin County woman is not your average blood donor, giving more than 18 gallons – 143 individual donations – over the past 43 years.
Carol Hall was 33 years old when her mom had to have exploratory surgery due to cancer on July 18, 1979, requiring a blood transfusion two weeks later, but as she was receiving blood she slipped into a coma.
About a week into her mom’s coma, Hall took a break while working at Pic-Pac to go to a blood drive being held at the Magoffin County Public Library. That was her first donation.
Her mother passed away a week after Hall gave blood for the first time, but she’s been donating ever since.
“I do this more so in her honor,” Hall said. “It’s a such a small thing to be able to do to help people.”
Every time a blood drive came to town, Hall was often the first one there. Two of her donations were “double reds,” where a special device is used to separate the red cells from the donor’s blood, allowing the donor to give twice the amount of red blood cells during one visit, while the plasma, platelets and other blood components are returned to the donor.
For the past 20 years or so, she’s been the chairperson for the county, helping to coordinate and spread the word about upcoming Kentucky Blood Center blood drives.
At 76 years old, Hall says she hopes to donate more, noting she never dreamed she would be able to do it this long.
“I thought maybe when I hit 60, I’d hit an age limit where I couldn’t, then at 70 I thought maybe that would be it, but here I am,” Hall said while picking up her shirt at the most recent blood drive, held on July 25.
She’s lost count of how many shirts she’s accumulated over the years.
“The last time I counted, I think it was around 120 or so shirts,” Hall said. “This is my wardrobe. I wear them to sleep in, out and about, and everything in between.”
Having donated 143 times, Hall said she would encourage everyone to at least try to donate once in their lifetime.
“Just try it,” Hall said. “It will make you feel good, helping people in need with not much effort. As many times as I have donated, I have never had any reactions to it. No negative experiences. Just don’t think about that needle in your arm when it’s happening, and the rest is easy.”
The Independent reached out to Kentucky Blood Center to see how common repeat donors like Hall are and what it means for the state’s blood supply.
Eric Lindsey, the director of media and branding for the Kentucky Blood Center, said “Eighteen gallons is an incredible testament to consistency and commitment to the mission. We’re thankful and grateful for people who come in and donate every time. If we didn’t have so many Carol Halls in our files, we couldn’t do what we do. We have some loyal donors, but it’s not all that common to hit this kind milestone.”
Lindsey explained they do have people who have donated 50 gallons before, but it takes a long-term commitment and persistence to get there, and it’s not very common.
Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) supplies blood for the state, meaning donations at any of their centers or at a mobile blood drive go to Kentucky patients in need, whether from car wrecks, traumas, major surgeries, cancer or other serious illnesses, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only hurt their supply.
“The pandemic affected our industry and we’re operating with a major deficit,” Lindsey said. “Before the pandemic, we received 70% of our supply from mobile drives. With the pandemic, it all changed. Everything closed and we weren’t collecting in that way anymore. Now, a lot of things are kind of getting back to normal, but with our industry, the whole dynamic has changed.”
Now, the KBC receives half of its blood supply from in-center donations and half from community drives.
“The summer is always a difficult time, too, since the need for transfusions goes up with people doing more things, but people are not around to donate as much. We’re in a critical need for every negative blood type.”
Lindsey said, “Before the pandemic, we knew we were in good shape when we had three or four days’ supply, but for the last two years it’s been around one day’s supply. We have less than a day’s supply right now.”
He also noted that most people think people only need blood transfusions from car accidents and gun shots, but over 25% of the blood supply goes toward cancer treatments.
“Specifically with the Kentucky Blood Center, we want everyone to know we’re a local nonprofit blood bank,” Lindsey said. “None of the blood goes out of state, which is unique and different. You’re helping your neighbor, brother, sister, aunt and uncle.”
Lindsey urged everyone to try to donate at least once, noting KBC staff will prescreen you to make sure you can donate, with most people eligible.
“One of the misconceptions with blood donation is about the needle,” Lindsey said. “No one wants to get poked with a needle, but the actual time you’re there is only 30 to 45 minutes, and the time the needle is in your arm is only around 8 to 12 minutes. I’m a big believer people want to give back and help others and this doesn’t cost anything. It’s only 30 to 45 minutes of your time and it makes a huge difference. Up to three lives are saved with every donation, so it’s a really impactful thing you can do.”
The Salyersville Independent will publish and publicize online when the next blood drive will be held locally, so subscribe today by calling 606-349-2915, visit our website at www.SalyersvilleIndependent.com or follow us on Facebook.
EDITORIAL
Free Snacks *check*
Free T-shirt *check*
Save a Life *check*
As most places do, the Salyersville Independent office has a few regular faces that show up fairly often, announcing upcoming events in the community, and letting us know about what’s happening locally. In the last 12 years I’ve been at the paper, one such person is Carol Hall, who has served as the Kentucky Blood Center chairperson for the county for many years.
While she stopped in the office recently, reminding us of the blood drive that was scheduled for the next week, Carol nonchalantly mentioned she has donated over 18 gallons of blood. Eighteen gallons! Imagine that in 18 gallons of milk, with an extra pint of milk on the side. Four five-gallon buckets nearly full. Or even as the 145 little pint baggies – it’s extraordinary no matter how you picture it. She’s told us the story of her mother needing blood after a surgery, inspiring Carol to donate for the first time.
“Have you ever donated?” she asked me, and the inevitable, “And why not?” when I told her I hadn’t.
My brother passed away several years ago after a short, but fierce battle with cancer, during which he needed many units of blood and platelets. My other brother and I were tested to see if we were a match for a bone marrow transplant, but we both matched only six out of the 10 markers they checked – not close enough – so he inevitably got a transplant from another donor, but it didn’t work. While it wasn’t the result we wanted, and I miss him dearly every day, those donations gave him a chance and slight glimmers of hope during a really dark time. I’m thankful for every donation he received, and Carol was right – I needed to donate, too.
So, I waltzed myself on up to the Salyersville First Baptist Church on the day of the blood drive. Many more of those familiar faces could be found in the fellowship hall, with Carol right in front of me in line.
The staff got me registered and had me fill out a questionnaire. I talked with Carol while we waited, some for the feature article I wanted to do on her huge accomplishment, and some just getting to know each other more. She showed me pictures of her cats, told me about her mom and a little about her life. All fascinating. It’s true what they say, everyone has a story to tell if you’re willing to listen.
She offered to hold my hand while I was donating, but we just laughed our way through it.
The woman prepping me for the actual stick was concerned with my vein sizes. Evidently, being petite can even translate to your veins, which was a new one on me. I felt like I had showed up for a test where I hadn’t studied, with different KBC staff looking at my arms and scrunching up their noses, but inevitably deciding it was possible and she got it on the first stick! Around six minutes later, I was done, eating my provided snack and waiting to make sure I didn’t have any weird side effects (I didn’t) before I could leave.
It was a half of a second of pain, followed by a handful of minutes of slight discomfort, all while talking with a fun crowd and getting a free t-shirt. It was an enjoyable experience for the most part, while helping others in need – people like my brother, Carol’s mom, a neighbor, or maybe one of the recent flood victims.
Now, at the end of the day, I know I’m no hero. I’m short, chunky, I don’t run fast, and I can’t lift much. I’m a newspaper editor. I try to help by spreading information to the people who need it, but there’s never a guarantee it’s even being read. Let’s be honest. This is more than likely the only chance most of us have of being a hero, and it requires so very little of us.
A few days later I received a text that said, “This is Vicki with KY Blood Center. Wanted to let you know your recent donation was supplied to Samaritan. Thanks for saving a local life.”
I know it just as easily could be an automatic message that goes out a few days after you donate at a blood drive, but either way, that was a good message to receive. So many things in our life are negative, but this was a very positive experience, and I would recommend everyone try to donate blood at least once. And maybe I’ll see you at the next one!
