January 4, 2008

Employee blood donors give from the heart

At the eighth annual Employee Blood Donor Appreciation Luncheon Dec. 3, the MGH Blood Donor Center recognized a very special group of donors: MGH employees. The luncheon was held as a thank you for hospital employees who demonstrated a commitment to sharing the most precious gift — the gift of life — by donating blood or platelets four or more times during fiscal year 2007. The center tallied 2,180 employee donations throughout the year.

Christopher Stowell, MD, PhD, director of the MGH Blood Transfusion Service, gave the welcoming remarks and introduced the event's guest speaker, Kate DeCoste, operations associate on White 12. A former marketing specialist for the Blood Donor Center, DeCoste knew the importance of donating blood but had never experienced the need for it firsthand —until her son, Jack, was diagnosedwith a heart condition shortly after his birth in April 2006. "Jack used many blood products both during and after his surgery to correct his heart defect," says DeCoste. "Without blood donors, Jack wouldn't be here today."

The luncheon concluded with recognition of the year's top employee donors: David Foye, who made 14 donations; Andrew Olssen, who made seven donations; and Constance Miller, who made six donations. "Employee blood donors truly
are the heart of our program," says Kim Cronin, manager of Donor Services. "The continued support of MGH employees has helped us to ensure there is an adequate blood supply for our patients in need."

The Blood Donor Center is open for whole blood donations Tuesday through Thursday, from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm; and Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The center is also open for platelet donations Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 am to 5 pm; and Friday, from 8:30 am to 3 pm. For more information, call (617) 726-8177.

From left, Meri Wentworth of the Blood Donor Center, Olssen, Alison Horanieh of the Blood Donor Center, DeCoste with her son Jack, Foye and Stowell