Greeneville Woman Gives Back The Gift Of Life
08:21 PM – Apr 02, 2008
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/-TRI_2008_04_02_0036/7945/
Greeneville Woman Gives Back ‘The Gift Of Life’
By Nicki Mayo, Tricities.com
A Greene County woman is helping to give “back” the gift of life.
“It really amazing to me to know that the blood that was given to me actually did save my life,” said Karen Waddell.
The first grade teacher’s aide received 16 units of blood after a car crash November 2007.
“It was a very serious accident and required a lot of blood. I think she had 18 units of blood, 14 units of platelets,” said Joyce Seaton Waddell’s mother.
The accident inspired Waddell to organize a blood drive at Doak Elementary School April 2nd. Her goal for the blood drive was to give back the blood that helped save her life.
American Red Cross volunteers set out to collect 35 units at the Doak Elementary School blood drive. Donations poured in as community members rolled up their sleeves to give. Blood Center coordinator Gwen Hunter says 47 units were collected.
“We wanted to help Karen as best we can. And my husband’s been sick and he had to have blood,” said Fannie Shipley. The Doak Elementary staffer was one of dozens rolling up her sleeve for the cause.
The blood donations will head to Georgia for processing before returning to the Greeneville area.
Red Cross officials say blood donations undergo nine tests, including HIV and Hepatitis C. Whole blood can expire after a month, so there’s always a need for fresh donations.
Waddell hopes anyone who cannot make it out to the blood drive will stop by a local Tri-Cities area blood banks and give the gift of life.
Go to Tricities.com, keyword “Gift of Life” to read more about Karen Waddell’s quest to collect blood donations.
