Amador County – The next American Legion Post 108 blood drive in Amador County, set for April 4, will include a donation by a man who in effect will be repaying a large loan of sorts, which he took out in the amount of 95 units of blood received after a motorcycle crash 29 years ago.
Veteran Community Blood Drive promoter Robert Saracino, of American Legion Post 108, said he did not know until recently that the local man was quietly repaying a debt. Saracino said he learned about it at the last drive, when the man said that he had one more unit to donate in order to replenish the 95 units.
BloodSource account manager Stephanie Kress said Delbert Mendoza, a man in the Jackson area, will be donating his 95th unit, or pint, of blood and received 95 units of blood after an accident in 1982. He will donate blood at the April 4 Veteran Community blood drive in Sutter Creek.
Kresse said “Mendoza believes in giving back what one has received,” and on April 4, “if he’s feeling well and healthy, he will give back his 95th pint of blood, replacing the 95 units he used following a terrible motorcycle crash with a semi-truck in 1982.”
Mendoza said: “I technically died 12 times over the following two weeks and then went into a month long coma.” He “had many broken bones and received 95 blood transfusions.”
Kresse said he “survived not only to share his story, but to thank blood donors and encourage others to give. He has looked forward many years to replacing in full the number of donations he received that allowed him to go on with his life.”
Mendoza thanks blood donors, saying: “My heart can’t speak nor can I translate into words to express a message of thanks for your generosity. You saved my life! From my heart to your heart, thank you!”
Kress said Type O-negative blood is “especially needed for trauma patients” like Mendoza. Blood donors can celebrate saving lives at the Veteran Community Drive set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, April 4 at the American Legion Hall, at 11401 American Legion Drive in Sutter Creek.
Sponsors are the American Legion Post 108, along with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8254, and the Disabled American Veterans Post 188. Blood donors will be automatically entered into a weekly drawing for a $250 fuel gift card.
For eligibility info, call BloodSource at 1-800-995-4420. For information, call (209) 223-4389. Donors are asked to eat and drink before they donate, and to also bring a photo ID.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
