Cross-country donors emphasize blood needs

Published Sept. 15, 2010
By Steve Hoffmann
81Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Jim and Linda Parker have donated nearly 60 gallons of blood between the two of them throughout their lifetime. And they are nowhere near finished.

The Parkers began their journey by donating at as many Red Cross donation centers as they could. They hit all 34 in 27 states. "When we finished that, we thought, 'Why not do all 50 states?'" said Mr. Parker. So the Parkers contacted all the independent blood banks to complete all 50 states.

When they got to Hawaii, their journey took a turn. Hawaii doesn't have a civilian blood donation center. The only one available was at Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, part of the Armed Services Blood Program's network of donation centers. Having a son on active duty in Iraq, and knowing that any blood donated with ASBP would go directly to the military, their efforts became personal.

The Parkers decided they would continue their journey by donating platelets at all 20 donation centers with ASBP. Their first stop was at the Pentagon on June 15, 2009. Their journey and brought them to Keesler, their 14th ASBP donor center, Sept. 7.

Though a process known as apheresis, platelets are extracted from the blood by drawing blood out of the body and spinning it at a certain rate in a machine which separates the blood into its component parts. In this case, the platelets are collected and the red blood cells and plasma are returned to the body.

"If the needle is not in correctly, I'll know it and I'll scream," said Mrs. Parker about the process. "But if it's in correctly, the anticoagulant feels like a mint traveling up my arm and into my head. It's cool."

It's a process that takes considerably longer than conventional whole blood donation but is helpful in ways unlike a standard pint of blood. Platelets can be used to treat cancer patients who've lost them during chemotherapy treatments and injured serice members and burn patients who often require multiple surgeries.

"I give because it's an honor to give," said a tearful Mrs. Parker. "It's humbling. I'm too old to serve but this is one way I can serve my country. And I like seeing men and women in uniform. It reminds me of my son. I haven't seen him in more than two years."

"We used to be hooked up to that," said Mrs. Parker pointing to an older machine. "We had to lie here for two hours with both arms strapped to the chair. You couldn't do anything. If you had to scratch your face you had to ask someone else to do it."

Now the machine is much smaller and the blood is drawn and returned through the same line.

"I like to watch the Food Network," she said. "It's a great time to relax and get to know someone new, as well."

Along with giving for the satisfaction of giving, the Parkers are giving to get the word out.

"We'd always hear stories about the shortages of blood nationwide and we wanted to see for ourselves," said Mr. Parker. "Sure enough, everywhere we went they'd show us the storage coolers where they kept their blood and they'd be empty. There is no supply. We'd talk to cancer patients in some parts of the country who had to settle for half treatments of platelets because there wasn't enough for a whole treatment."

Getting the word out in the small town of McPherson, Kan., where the Parkers live presented a challenge. But one day the Parkers got an idea.

"Living where we do, we'd always have someone passing through town who was heading across America on bike or on foot or on a horse and they'd always get media coverage," she explained. "So we thought, 'Why don't we travel across the country and give blood.'"

Their idea is working. When the Parkers gave blood at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., 140 Soldiers were marched to the blood center to meet them and give blood. The blood donation center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was full of young Airmen waiting to give when Jim and Linda arrived.

"It's gratifying to see that," said Mr. Parker. "Our main purpose is to help save lives. A close second is to get the word out that there is a shortage. Everywhere we go, we see older people from my generation giving blood. We need more young people to give.
"I started giving because of young people," recalled Mr. Parker, a former high school principal. One day he was approached by a group of seniors.

"Back then, my philosophy was if God wanted me to give, he'd put a spigot in my arm," he admitted. "I didn't want anyone sticking a needle in my arm. I thought it was barbaric."

A bloodmobile was visiting the high school that day and the seniors challenged him that if they could get over half the student body to donate, he would donate."

"I remember asking myself, 'Do I stick to my philosophy and not give or do I bite the bullet and help encourage young people to give?' I bit the bullet."

At 268 lifetime donations, Mr. Parker continues to bite the bullet. Mrs. Parker is a close second with nearly 200 lifetime donations.
Aside from their individual donations, the Parkers make a great blood donating team.

As a female, Mrs. Parker has less iron in her blood than Mr. Parker and can't give whole blood as frequently as he can. However, males typically don't have as many platelets in their blood as females, so Mrs. Parker can donate platelets more often than Mr. Parker. To stay healthy on the road, the Parkers try to eat well and take walking breaks every two hours. Mrs. Parker also takes iron supplements.

Their next stop is at Ft. Hood, Texas during their Christmas break. After that, they'll travel to Camp Pendleton, Calif. during Easter break. They plan to finish their tour next summer.

To follow the Parkers on their journey or to find out more about ASBP, visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil