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CEDAR RAPIDS Age is nothing to Nadene Roberts. She is still working to save lives, one pint at a time, and at 99, she isn’t slowing down.
As seen by the recent blood drive she organized in the Calvary Baptist Church gymnasium in southwest Cedar Rapids on Monday afternoon, the seasoned blood donor also enjoys enlisting others to join her.
A big chocolate chip cookie that spells out letters with red and white frosting It’s your day, and Roberts was met at the ceremony with a joyful Mylar balloon.
As the blood collection specialist swabbed her inner elbow with a disinfecting wipe, placed a blood pressure cuff, and expertly put a needle into a vein, she made jokes with Vicky Hess. Roberts turned to speak with Dr. Joel Sardzinski, her dentist, whom she had invited to donate blood with her that day, as the blood poured into a collection bag.
After 25 years of donating 600 gallons of blood, the Cedar Rapids retiree organized the blood drive on July 14. Roberts is the oldest volunteer blood drive coordinator and donor at the nonprofit community blood center, according to ImpactLife.
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With donor facilities and delivery hubs in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin, ImpactLife, a significant blood supplier to over 120 hospitals and emergency medical services providers in a four-state area, is headquartered in Davenport.
Kirby Winn, ImpactLife’s public relations manager, stated, “We have one person (Roberts) who is 99 years old out of 213,000 donors across four states, just a very small handful in their 90s.”
Roberts, a former career and college admissions counselor for the Veterans Administration and Coe College, said she finds the procedure simple and personally fulfilling and that she likes to identify donors and raise awareness about blood donation.
Being a volunteer blood drive coordinator and donor, according to Roberts, has given her a sense of purpose by enabling her to make a positive impact on her community and giving her the chance to meet new people.
She claimed that hearing about the life-saving effects of blood transfusions is what most inspires her.
She claimed that knowing that you might be saving someone’s life is incredibly simple and fulfilling.
By highlighting the ease of the procedure (the actual blood draw takes roughly eight to ten minutes) and the urgent need for blood donations, Roberts inspires others.
Roberts stated, “I just think it is very important because there is such a tremendous need for blood.”
Iowa s blood supply faces ongoing challenges
According to reports from Iowa’s blood centers, including ImpactLife and LifeServe Blood Center, the state’s blood supply continues to face difficulties.
According to the LifeServe Blood Center’s website, the numbers of blood types O-, A-, and AB-negative are currently extremely low.
According to the American Red Cross, there is a tremendous demand for blood in the US, with a transfusion being required every two seconds. In the United States, around 16 million blood components are transfused annually, and about 29,000 units of red blood cells are required daily.
Donations of blood are required to prepare for emergencies and to satisfy the daily needs of patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic accidents. According to the Red Cross, a single victim of an automobile accident may need up to 100 units of blood.
The region’s blood supply has a rough time throughout the summer. Summertime usually sees a decline in blood donation rates because of a number of variables, such as school breaks, vacations, and more individuals traveling, which discourages blood giving. But the demand for blood never stops, therefore now is a crucial moment to donate, according to Teresa Gottschalk, regional manager for ImpactLife.
According to Gottschalk, hospitals and emergency rooms also frequently see greater incidence of trauma-related injuries over the summer due to an increase in outdoor activities and travel, which raises the need for blood. Red blood cells and platelets are examples of blood components that cannot be kept permanently due to their short shelf life.
According to ImpactLife, O-negative and B-negative blood types are both at less than a three-day supply, indicating low inventory for some blood types, which is normal for this time of year. However, the blood center says it needs donations of all blood types, including platelets.
Donors who donate blood at ImpactLife donor centers until August 10 will get an extra $20 gift card or Good Giving donation incentive to help increase supplies.
Donations of blood are divided into essential parts to optimize its utilization. Red blood cells, plasma, and platelets are isolated from whole blood donations. Blood donations can also yield granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, and cryoprecipitate, a component of plasma.
According to Gottschalk, blood may be divided into three components, and as a donor, you are supporting your community. so that one life could be saved by your blood. It might be able to save as many as three lives. In actuality, you’re merely assisting in making sure that the blood on the shelf is there when it’s needed because you never know when an emergency might arise and you yourself might use that blood in the future.
Call (800) 747-5401, text LIFESAVER to 999-777, or make an appointment online at www.bloodcenter.org or through the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app) to donate blood.
A gem who brightens the corner where you are
Volunteer coordinators like Roberts, who are excellent at recruiting and following up, are crucial in establishing rapport and personal ties with contributors, according to Gottschalk.
According to Gottschalk, they are the gems. In a sense, those are the haystack needles that we like and that, to be honest, make it interesting and fun. However, it’s incredible to have someone who has done it for this long continue support our purpose and the donors. It simplifies our work. That request from that human connection is considerably superior to what our business is capable of.
Winn, ImpactLife’s public relations manager, stated that the organization seeks volunteers and donors of all ages, from high school students to seniors.
According to him, honoring seasoned blood donors like Roberts and sharing their inspirational tales inspires others and increases blood donor zeal.
Donating blood has no upper age restriction.
According to Gottschalk, you can give as long as you’re at least 16 years old and in good health.
Registration, a health history, a mini-physical that measures blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and hemoglobin levels, the actual blood donation, and post-donation hydration and snacks are all part of the procedure.
Gottschalk stated that she hopes to have Roberts’ level of energy.
Just seeing her smile and being able to be enthusiastic and have those relationships makes me think that’s who I want to be in order to feel good about myself and have that extra push at 99 years old.
According to Roberts, having a purpose and remaining active are essential for preserving health and enjoying life, even as one ages. She claimed that her strategy for staying motivated and involved is to constantly have things to do and people to connect with.
In addition to continuing to organize blood drives, she plans monthly parties for retirees at her church, including food and speakers, and she visits family in Florida and Rhode Island four times a year. Her tendency is to avoid “sit and stare into space.”
According to Winn, Ella Fitzgerald’s “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” was his grandmother’s favorite song.
He said to Roberts, “And I believe that’s what you’re doing.”
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