January 18, 2002

Walter (Sunny) Dzik, MD, co-director of the MGH Blood Transfusion Services, remembers his first time as if it were yesterday — his first time donating blood that is. Dzik, who is a regular donor, belongs to a group of MGHers who are being asked by the MGH Blood Donor Center to share their stories about their first experience donating blood and the reasons why they continue to donate. The center is surveying regular blood donors to publicize National Blood Donor Awareness Month for January and to encourage others to donate.

Dzik, along with Sally Morton, RN, of the MGH Burn Unit, and Jim Heffernan, chief financial officer of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, share their first blood donation experiences with Hotline below.

Dzik: I was in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, living with four other medical students, when we heard about a leukemia patient who was in need of platelets. So, all of us decided to donate. In addition to helping this patient, my motivation was not to "chicken out." At that time [in the 1970s], platelet donation wasn't the same process as it is today. They essentially had to take our blood in four different sessions. I remember the guy who was screening me brought me a cup of coffee because he said I looked nervous. Since then, I've donated about 80 times.

As a donor, I want to take advantage of the opportunity to possibly save someone's life. As the co-director of Blood Transfusion Services, I not only see the value of saving human life by donating, but I am very aware of the fragility of our blood supply. We don't have an endless supply, and I think that if more people knew how fragile the supply is, they would donate all the time.

Morton: I remember that I was so young and náve when I first donated blood. I remember feeling that it was almost like having a baby — not that it was painful, but I felt like I was giving life to someone else. I also remember a funny moment when my husband and son came to the hospital to donate platelets with me. Since platelet donation takes longer [two hours], we could watch a movie while donating. After a while, my husband looked over at me and saw me crying. Obviously concerned that I was in pain from donating, he said: "Sally, what's wrong?" And I replied: "I'm fine; it's just the movie!" We happened to be watching "Free Willy." I continue to donate because it is so easy to do, and it can mean so much to so many patients. Working in the MGH Burn Unit, we use a lot of blood products, so I see firsthand how important it is to keep the blood supply at a safe level.

Heffernan: The first time I donated was when I was in college at Boston University and came over to the MGH by trolley with a friend. We came here because my friend worked part-time weekends in a lab. Since then, I've continued to give blood because it feels like the right thing to do. I usually give platelets, since I don't mind the needles, and it gives me a chance to give more often. One of the great things about the staff at the center is that they always seem to remember me and to be glad I came to donate even if I have missed a couple of months.

All MGHers who donate blood during the month of January will receive a free "Do you remember your first time?" T-shirt. The MGH Blood Donor Center, located on Gray 1, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (617) 724-9699.