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Boardman man donates 50th gallon of blood
Photo
Neighbors | Shaiyla HakeemJessica Kissel (left) stands with her father Ron Kissel, who has donated 50 gallons of blood. Jessica is following in her father’s footsteps by being an active blood donor.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
neighbors@vindy.com
Community service is one thing, but Ron Kissel goes above and beyond.
In January, Kissel donated his 50th gallon of blood, which is equal to about 400 donations.
“My community service is I donate blood components. I spend 50 to 60 hours a year donating and I enjoy doing it,” he said.
Kissel, who is currently living in St. Clairsville, donated his first unit of blood May 22, 1982. His wife’s grandfather needed blood for a surgery he was undergoing and Kissel was happy to supply that need. After the initial donation, Kissel decided to keep donating as a way to serve his community.
“I thought that I probably lost about five years of donating because I could have started at 17. I need to make up for lost time,” Kissel said.
With the use of modern technology, red cell, platelets and plasma can be donated at the same time while returning unused blood components back to the donor. This allows for a shorter time span between donations. Kissel donates more than 24 times a year.
According to Kissel, platelets are an invaluable blood component due to its short shelf life and its use for cancer and leukemia patients. He says his platelet level is high, so he can donated several units during one donation.
“I’m on the machine for 130 minutes and basically I’m donating three units of platelets at once,” he said.
Kissel says that younger generations need to be more involved in blood donations. He thinks that the importance of donating needs to be promoted.
“It’s mostly older people who are regular donors and there is not a lot of influx of young people,” he said.
Kissel donates blood regardless of where he is. He has donated in Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. When visiting his in-laws in Boardman, he donates at the Austintown Donor Center on Westchester Drive, but he will donate at any Red Cross center when it is time for another donation.
“If I’m on vacation and I’m due to donate, I’ll find a blood drive,” he said.
Kissel is currently taking steps to set a Guinness World record. He says there is currently no record for blood donations, but he would like to set the standard for future donors.
“This is a lifetime achievement. It’s not eating 200 worms in two minutes,” Kissel said. “You have to dedicate your life to this to be able to do it and beat the record.”
Kissel would like to donate well into his 80s, achieving over 100 gallons. His youngest daughter, Jessica, 17, has donated four times. She is planning to follow in her father’s footsteps and possibly breaking his record of donations.
Kissel says that those who utilize blood donations are very thankful and that’s what keeps him motivated.
“They are thankful because usually it’s saving someone’s life,” Kissel explains. “That’s the reason why I started it and that’s the reason why I will do it forever.”