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Partners: Proving that Anything is Possible On April 24, when she spoke to two dozen Transfusion Service staff members, Elaine Sonntag-Johnson was a little nervous at first. It was the same feeling she experienced before addressing the 900 volunteers and donors at the Jan. 26 Partners in Life luncheon in Seattle. In both cases, however, she quickly relaxed as she delivered her heartfelt message of gratitude for the help each group has provided her over the years. For 18 years, hundreds of blood donors have helped Elaine Sonntag-Johnson. She has paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare disorder of red blood cells that leads to premature destruction of the cells. There’s no known cause, and there’s no known cure — yet. Because she can’t produce red cells, blood transfusions have enabled her to live a normal life. “I am grateful for Puget Sound Blood Center and all those who give blood – I hope they know how much they help people like me.” Over the years, she’s used nearly 1,000 units of blood components. Last year, Elaine was involved in clinical trials that showed promise of producing a therapy without blood transfusions. “But if it weren’t for blood transfusions all these years, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have an opportunity to be part of this breakthrough,” Elaine says. “You know, I’ve always marveled at the silent heroes that blood donors are, donating blood to help people they will never meet. No fanfare, no glory…just helping people from the goodness of their hearts. For me, this is the essence of what a community is all about. “Eighteen years ago I thought that my world was over,” she told the Partners audience. “But you kept me going long enough to know that it wasn’t; long enough for the clinical trials; long enough to find out that anything is possible. I’ll always thank you for it.” In March, the new drug gained government approval and Elaine no longer needs monthly blood transfusions. In April she thanked the Blood Center lab staff for their years of work on her behalf.
Celebrations The Blood Center recognized the City of Seattle and its Seattle Municipal Tower donor group, which held ten blood drives in 2006 with an average of 66 registrations at each. The group has 16 blood drives scheduled in 2007. Patricia McInturff, city director of human services, accepted the award. Ronald Schulz of West Seattle is one reason patients can count on a ready blood supply. Ronald has donated whole blood 297 times for more than 37 gallons! Gene Melang is a blood drive coordinator with the United States Coast Guard, Integrated Support Command, Seattle, where 1,378 donors have been registered since May 1994. A 16-gallon donor, Gene inspires his group to donate six times each year. For four years, Lon Davidson of Edmonds has helped the Blood Center increase awareness of its mission and research programs among community and business leaders. The Blood Center works closely with teens through its High School Partnership Campaign to promote a lifestyle that includes blood donation. This year, more than 175 Western Washington high schools held over 290 blood drives that registered over 18,600 donors during the academic year 2005-2006. Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School held four blood drives last year, and registered 165 donors — more than a 62 percent increase over the previous year and the highest increase of all high schools. Teacher Heidi Dullum, the school’s drive coordinator, accepted the award. During the past four years, Encore Media Group of Seattle has provided the Blood Center with an exceptional level of support in advertising and event sponsorship. Paul Heppner, president and publisher of Encore, accepted the award. Kerry Chesbro of Sammamish is a regular volunteer at Blood Center drives and donor centers who is always ready to fill in on short notice. He not only helps to register donors and aid them in the canteen after donating, he is also a 13-gallon donor. In addition to Sonntag-Johnson, speakers at the Seattle Partners in Life included Richard B. Counts, M.D., Blood Center president and CEO; Maria Elena Geyer, vice president, Donor Services Group, and John V. Rindlaub, CEO, Pacific Northwest Region, Wells Fargo and the Blood Center’s 2006-2007 Community Campaign Council chair. Rindlaub introduced Gary Locke, former Washington State governor and partner, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, as the Blood Center’s upcoming Community Campaign Council Chair, 2008-2009.
Jefferson and Clallam Counties Under the guidance of Blood Drive coordinator, Ree Huston, Sequim Community Church has held 11 drives since February 2005, and registered 633 donors, 127 of them first-timers. The church holds Sequim’s only Saturday blood drive and its friendly atmosphere and homemade cookies and breads draw rave reviews from donors. In 1991, Pat Bello started the Neah Bay community blood drive and has coordinated more than 25 blood drives and registered 1,000-plus donors — a remarkable achievement for a small community. Carol Laase of Chimacum is a committed registration volunteer who takes annual leave from her job to help out at the Jefferson Healthcare blood drive to register over 400 donors. Lesa Barnes of Port Townsend began donating as a 17-year-old in 1983, and donates every 56 days; she has donated whole blood 117 times and platelets 23 times. Crescent High School received an award for the highest participation per school population by registering over 218 percent of the school population. Student enthusiasm and a partnership with the community were keys to the school’s blood drive success. Speaker Nancy White of Port Angeles started the event: “Because of each of you, I’m alive – plain and simple.” As much as anyone, she knows the relationship between blood donors and patients; she’s had more than 50 surgeries, many of which required blood. But Nancy’s spirit and sense of humor were never broken. “Her determination is remarkable,” says her mother, Betty, a long-time blood drive volunteer. “She always bounces back.” Donors are one reason, Nancy told the audience. “If you think for one second that the blood and time you give is wasted, you are wrong.” Other speakers included the Blood Center’s John Reagan, donor and volunteer resources manager, Greg Supancheck, donor resources representative, and Julie Forville, volunteer services coordinator.
Snohomish County The Knights of Columbus Stanwood-Camano has been coordinating four blood drives annually since 1995, with 250 donors registered a year. Richard and Ruby Ridgeway, Alan and Bobbi Davis and Jack Cartee, who accepted the award, have registered more than 1,536 donors since they began organizing the Knights’ blood drives in 2001. Edmonds-Woodway High School Warriors began annual blood drives in 1994 and hold three drives a year. In the last year, 210 donors registered. Advisor Sherri Webster allows student leaders to be creative in running the blood drives. Harold Mitchell, of Bothell, a Blood Center volunteer for 14 years, is known for his reliability and enthusiasm. He contributes 300-400 hours each year and volunteers at blood drives in both Snohomish and King Counties. Brother and sister combination William Stipek of Arlington and Jeanne Stipek Kile of Marysville, together have made nearly 500 whole blood donations. Luncheon speakers included Bothell’s Randy Small, a heart transplant and blood recipient who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure years ago and in 2004 received a lifesaving heart transplant. Other speakers were Dr. Counts, David Leitch, director, Donor and Volunteer Resources; Mike Thompson, donor resources representative and Jim Tehero, regional volunteer services coordinator. Thurston, S. Mason & Lewis Counties Also honored were longtime donors Lee Crump (296 platelet donations!) of Olympia and Armand Osterberg, also of Olympia, who celebrated his 500th volunteer shift at the Olympia Center October 11, 2006, and is an enthusiastic trainer of other volunteers. “I particularly like working with first timers, setting them at ease and helping them to realize how special they are,” he says. Speakers included Shelton’s Debbie Hill, a physical therapist for disabled children at several schools and at their homes. Her mother, Mary Beerbower, received many transfusions during a battle with leukemia; several blood drives were held in her honor. Debbie expressed her family’s appreciation for the transfusions — they gave the family more time with Mary, who passed away in March 2006. Other speakers included the Blood Center’s Thomas Price, M.D., EVP Medical Division & medical director; Sprout Hochberg, Donor and Volunteer Resources manager; Tori Fairhurst, Donor Resources representative; and Jennifer Jagelski Frost, Volunteer Services coordinator for the area. Kitsap County Curtis Mays of Kingston, the coordinator of Poulsbo community blood drives at Electronic Data Systems, designs his own drive flyers, posts them throughout the community and coordinates efforts to email and phone potential donors. Curtis and his committee have brought in 5,000 donors over the past 10 years. Harrison Medical Center has held drives responsible for about 3,000 donations for the past 15 years. Under Scott Bosch, president, Harrison has increased participation at blood drives from 25 to 40 donors, mainly through his example and encouragement. Reuben Gartin of Kingston, a volunteer at the Silverdale Center since September 1998, monitors donors and serves refreshments every Wednesday evening. Leonard Newsom of Bremerton has donated whole blood 112 times and platelets 68 times. This 22-gallon donor is a NUWC Keyport employee. Fifteen-year-old Rian Anderson of Seabeck was the key speaker and talked about the importance of a ready blood supply. She knows from personal experience — a tumor infiltrated the spinal cord in her neck. Her surgeons had five pints of blood on hand when they operated to remove the tumor. Although Rian didn’t need a transfusion, her mother Melinda Smieja says she is thankful for knowing there was an adequate blood supply available if Rian had needed it. |
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