Derek Daly CEO | Tomah Memorial Hospital Inc.
Derek Daly CEO | Tomah Memorial Hospital Inc.
Warrens resident and pastor David Weber participated in a blood drive at Recreation Park in Tomah on January 15. The event was organized by the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, where Weber, who serves at St. Matthew Lutheran Church near Warrens, was among 71 donors during the two-day drive held on January 15 and 16.
Weber often opts for a double red blood donation. This method allows him to donate two units of red blood cells in one session while returning plasma and platelets to his body. Officials highlight that this type of donation is efficient and provides more of the much-needed product for patients.
“I get twice the donation in one sitting,” said Weber. “It seems like fewer people get to do it because of the iron levels now, so the pool is a little bit smaller, so I’m glad to do it. I just know there’s a need. I hear about it on media that we’re short, and so it’s something I can do,” he added. Weber has been donating blood for nearly four decades.
The relationship between Tomah Health and Versiti is another motivating factor for Weber's donations. “I like to shop local, and so to think that my blood is useful too,” he mentioned. Blood from these drives supports almost 50 hospitals in Wisconsin, including Tomah Health itself. “I got a letter last time that my blood went to Menomonee Falls, and I have a nephew who’s a police officer there, so there’s a little connection,” Weber noted.
Emalea Cogdill, an account representative with Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, stated that the two-day drive would supply 161 life-saving blood products to community hospitals. “Although winter weather and illness affect donations across the state this time of year, the Tomah Community again understood the significant impact each and every donation has on the blood supply,” Cogdill said. “Keeping our hospital partners with the blood they need each and every day to treat our communities can only be done with the generosity of donations.”
Tomah Health and Versiti plan their next drive for March 12 and 13 at Recreation Park in Tomah.
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