The love — and the blood — kept flowing Tuesday in Starkville.
United Blood Services parked its mobile blood donation bus in the OCH Regional Medical Center parking lot hoping to collect 35 pints of blood. It was an optimistic goal, considering they collected just 18 in December.
Thirty-six pints and 34 donors later, the UBS bus pulled out of Starkville with the plenty of love to spread to those who need it most.
UBS collected 10 pints of O-negative blood, which is the universal blood type for all patients in need of blood transfusions.
“That’s what we fall back on to ensure a safe product,” said Tom Sheward, director of the lab and blood bank at OCH Regional Medical Center.
Most of the donors who visited the “bloodmobile” Tuesday are regulars. They catch up with each other every few months, share a laugh with the technicians, down a bottle of water and leave with a smile.
Ty Abernathy, Starkville resident and Mississippi State University research professor, donates blood every eight weeks — the minimum timetable allowed between donations. It’s as much a part of who he is as his profession, he said.
And, it runs in the family.
“My grandparents were always avid blood donors,” Abernathy said. “They’ve lived well into their 80s, close to their 90s now and seem quite healthy. I think blood donation may contribute to that. When you give blood, your body makes new blood.”
Like Abernathy, David Butler had a father who donated blood regularly but didn’t become a regular donor until just a few years ago. He said his motivation was sparked by a community member who’d fallen ill and needed blood donated. The direction donation of blood can help offset medical costs.
“I don’t have much to give, but what I can give is a little blood,” said Butler, who donates blood three times a year. “Every chance I get, when I’m able, I’ll give blood.
“It makes me feel good knowing I give blood.”
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