July 2003 - Adventist.org - Lake Union Conference

OctogenarianCelebratesBirthday byGiving BloodBY LYNN LARSONGinder Bendz of ClarendonHills, Illinois, received the royaltreatment from Hinsdale Hospitalrecently when he came to theBlood Component Center todonate platelets. Patricia Sutton,chief executive officer, and TimCook, vice president, were on handto shake his hand and thank himfor coming. The cause of celebrationwas his 80 th birthday, and staffpresented their oldest donor with acrown, balloons, and a birthdaycake. Ginder has been donatingplatelets for nearly 20 years. Thisvisit represented his 237 th visit forplatelet donation. He first gaveblood in 1955 in response to a programthat offered to provide freeblood to any donor’s family membersif needed.“I tell my friends I’m a giver,not a taker. I’ve never neededblood,” says Ginder. “It’s a goodthing to give, and it helps someoneelse.”The octogenarian quips that hecomes for the cookies and beveragethat the staff gives donors tolevel their blood sugar afterdonating. But in fact, charitableacts are in his blood. Between hisvisits, he acts as a voluntary promoterof the blood collection centerat Hinsdale Hospital. “Iencourage anyone to give blood. Itake the stickers they give and putthem on envelopes I send out. IGinder Bendz celebrates his 80th birthday reigning as Hinsdale Hospital’s BloodComponent Center’s oldest donor. Congratulating him are Patricia Sutton, CEO, andTim Cook, vice president.carry literature in my car andhave decals on the windows ofmy vehicle that say ‘Blood DonorsSave Lives.’” He also deliversfood once a month to senior citizenswith a humanitarian groupand provides affordable handymanservices to widows.Ginder says lack of time is notan excuse for not giving blood.“You can watch TV here as well asat home. You can bring your ownvideo or pick from more than 200titles in their video library,” hesays. The process to donateplatelets takes less than twohours. After each session, he setsthe calendar reminder on hiswatch for his next appointment.The former member of the ArmyAir Corps says it’s in his Germannature to be “very punctual.” It’salso in his nature to “love thyneighbor.”Kris Veenbas, donor recruiter,says the need is great for bloodand platelet donors.“Four millionpeople need blood transfusionsevery day, and only five percent ofpeople healthy enough to donateblood actually do. Giving blood isan easy way to save a life. Also,studies show that those whodonate whole blood at least threetimes a year have a reduced riskof heart disease.”Donating blood is safe and simple.Potential donors must be atleast 17 years old (16 withparental consent), weigh at least110 pounds, and be in good generalhealth. There is no upper agelimit for donors, and most medicationsdo not interfere withdonor eligibility. People candonate blood every 56 days, orevery eight weeks—up to sixtimes a year. Platelets can be given24 times a year.Lynn Larson is Adventist HealthSystem Midwest Region’s LakeUnion Herald correspondent.Visit our web site at luc.adventist.org Lake Union Herald, July 2003 • 7