Blood drive collects 63 units on Rez

Scott Csernyik

4/13/2006 12:00:00 AM

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort patron Shirley Stump recently took a break from giving her favorite slot machines pennies and nickels to making time for a cause she's believed in most of her life-donating blood.

The 62-year-old St. Johns resident was one of several dozen successful donors at the Red Cross blood drive on March 16 at the Tribal Gymnasium.

"I started giving when I was 19," she explained. "I lost my little brother because he was stillborn and my mom needed six pints of blood. I guess I was the only one in the family old enough and brave enough to do so."

Stump, who is A negative, is now four pints shy of donating 11 gallons of blood-an accomplishment she is very proud of.

"I've saved all of my pins," she explained. "My family knows that I want to be buried with them. If that doesn't get me into St. Peter's Gate, I don't know what will."

Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center Public Health Nurse Sue Sowmick said the drive's goal was 55 units and 63 were collected.

"We had at least 90 people come through the door, but 23 were deferred and some couldn't stay for the wait," she stated. "We had 35 first-time donors, which is truly wonderful. Quite a few kids from our community came over to learn about the process and donate. A few of them were very interested in the Red Cross and are planning on to some volunteering this summer."

Out of the 86 employees who came to the drive from 33 departments, the Tribal Clerk's Office had the greatest percentage. Door prize winners included: Helen Lee, one-night stay at the Soaring Eagle Resort; Aaron Henrickson, $25 gift certificate at the Firefly Buffet; and Gerald Martin, Little Caesar's gift certificate from WCFX.