MONROE — Nathan Botteron donated blood for the first time in the 1960s — he can’t remember exactly when. However, once he did, he was hooked.
“Once I found out what it took, I kept coming back,” said Botteron, 80, of Monroe. “At that time, you could donate just four times a year.”
When the hospitals started accepting donations, Botteron said that number went to six times a year. He’s been donating ever since.
At the American Red Cross blood drive on Dec. 14 at Monroe Bible Church, Botteron was honored by the Red Cross for his continued commitment to helping strangers. Botteron reached the 28-gallon mark after 227 donations, according to Mike Olmstead, who oversees the Bible Church’s blood drive.
“It’s pretty neat. It takes a long time to get up to that,” Olmstead said.
According to the American Red Cross, each donation of blood can save up to three lives. At 28 gallons, that’s 672 lives potential lives Botteron has impacted.
There are four main types of blood: A, B, AB and O. Type A has only the A antigen on red cells, and the B antibody in the plasma. Type B is the opposite, with only the B antigen on red cells and A antibody in the plasma. Type AB has both antigens on red cells, but neither antibody in the plasma. Type O has neither antigens on red cells, but both antibody in plasma.
The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood. The universal plasma donor has Type AB blood.
According to the Red Cross, O negative blood can be used in transfusions for any blood type. Type O is routinely in short supply and in high demand by hospitals — both because it is the most common blood type and because type O negative blood is the universal blood type needed for emergency transfusions and for immune deficient infants.
Approximately 45% of Caucasians are type O (positive or negative), but 51% of African-Americans and 57% of Hispanics are type O. Minority and diverse populations, therefore, play a critical role in meeting the constant need for blood.
Types O negative and O positive are in high demand. Only 7% of the population are O negative. However, the need for O negative blood is the highest because it is used most often during emergencies.
Olmstead, an EMT, said he was on a call one night about give years ago where blood was needed. MedFlight arrived and administered the blood in an attempt to save the patient.
“It could have been my blood,” Olmstead said. “I wanted to help, and at the time, United Methodist Church was the only place in Monroe holding blood drives.”
Olmstead said since the Monroe Bible Church started hosting its blood drives, there has been an average of about 80 units of blood collected. At Thursday’s drive, eight people had donated more than 100 times.
“It’s been very impactful for me, and in a good way,” Olmstead said.
Botteron was the lone 200-plus donor. Rarely does he take off from an opportunity to donate. Sometimes inclement weather keeps him home, or other times, like this past March, it’s hip surgery.
“I didn’t think my doctor would like that very much,” Botteron quipped. “I come back every time they’re here.”
