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Regular Blood Drives Give the Gift of Life 
Lloyd Perrigo, a building trades specialist and carpenter at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, gives blood to the American Red Cross every time he is asked. "The main reason I give is because I'd hate to show up at a hospital needing blood and have there not be any," he says. Thanks to Lloyd and other blood donors, that's some-thing Woody Zenfell, 81, of Sunset Hills, Mo., didn't have the opportunity to find out. Last November, Woody nearly died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. While being treated at University Hospital for a ruptured spleen and torn diaphragm, he received four pints of blood products. As a result, Woody, one of the first supervising engineers to work on the St. Louis Arch project 35 years ago, now has the chance to see the landmark weather the new millennium. The American Red Cross counts on Lloyd and other staff members to donate blood at Health Sciences Center-sponsored blood drives. As a member of Bloodlines - a group of 20 Columbia businesses that make annual pledges to the American Red Cross - the Health Sciences Center helps the not-for-profit organization meet everyday needs through blood drives held at the Quarterdeck Building, University Hospital and Ellis Fischel. The School of Medicine also typically sponsors one drive a year. "This life is in the hands of blood donors," says American Red Cross donor recruitment representative Janelle Freking, adding that keeping up with the region's need requires an overwhelming 1,000 units a day. Janelle says University Hospital, which collected more than 500 units of blood through its seven blood drives in 1998, is the leader in the number of blood drives held among Columbia hospitals. Hospital Staff Council and Management Council accept responsibility for sponsoring the blood drives and encouraging peer participation. "It shows that as a caring institution, we're not only here to help heal but also to give back to the community," says Kathy Morgan, manager of Nutrition and Food Services and chair of University Hospital's Management Council. "It also sets an example for other hospitals and businesses to do the same." According to American Red Cross statistics, the proportion of people who donate blood is only 5 percent nationally. However, local statistics are a bit higher. The collective donations of Boone and Cole counties represent closer to 12 percent of the population. Columbia is part of the American Red Cross' 119-county Missouri/Illinois region. The blood collected in the region supplies 100 percent of the blood needed by 130 hospitals, and unless donations result in a surplus, all units collected stay within the region. Janelle informs that, "giving blood takes only one hour out of your day, it's easy and it makes you feel good that you have made it possible to save lives." "It's the best thing I've ever done," Millie says. Trauma survivors like Woody Zenfell are sure to agree. |
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