Father and daughter team up for milestone blood donation

Randy says it’s a pretty cool feeling to be doing this with his daughter.

“Coincidentally, her and I do share the same blood type, so I guess if I ever need a pint, I can call her, if she ever needs one, she can call me,” Randy adds.

Sonia echoes her father’s sentiments. Having worked in the health-care system, she has seen firsthand what blood donations mean to the community.

“I’m a nurse, and so I’ve seen the impact that blood donations can make on people, and it’s not just a terrible crash that can cause somebody to need blood, it can be something [like] kidney disease.”

That blood is being used to save lives, it’s as simple as that. _{-Randy Laughlin}

According to Canadian Blood Services, it is estimated up to 31,000 donors had left the donor base over the last 28 months, which has mainly been attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation.

Lisa Castro, territory manager for Canadian Blood Services, says there is currently a big push for new donors.

“This year, we need to recruit at least 100 thousand new donors, and we’re hoping that the community in Medicine Hat will continue to stay strong and grow with us,” Castro says. “What we were finding is that the same donors have been supporting us throughout the pandemic, which is fantastic, but it’s just not sustainable. So we really need to change that trend, stop it right now, bring in more new donors to help sustain the blood system.”

Castro puts the Laughlins’ milestone donation in perspective for what actually goes into saving even just a single life.

“It can take up to 50 donors to support one car accident [victim]. In fact, most of the car accidents, victims I have seen have needed upward of 150 units of blood just in that one day to stabilize them.”

Castro adds it can take anywhere from five to eight units of blood per week to help sustain a single person’s cancer treatment.

Canadian Blood Services hopes a story like Randy and Sonia’s will inspire those not only in Medicine Hat to donate blood but all over the country.

While it’s a historic moment for the Laughlins, they say it’s not about them. Randy recalls a young woman he met back in 2017 who was undergoing cancer treatment.

“She had gone through multiple transfusions because of leukemia, and she was alive because of us, and that really hits you right? So that’s one of the main reasons that I donate.”

“You hear the stories that are told, it really hits you hard that you are definitely making a difference. That blood is being used to save lives, it’s as simple as that,” Randy adds.

For Sonia, she encourages anyone who may be hesitant to donate to know even a single donation goes a long way.

“It’s really such a small price to pay to be able to make a difference in somebody’s life.”

The Laughlins have also issued challenges to their community to sign up and make appointments to donate. Randy has challenged Medicine Hat Little League, which he has been a part of for several years, and Sonia has challenged nursing staff and doctors to help bring awareness and make appointments to donate blood.

For more information on how to donate, you can visit Canadian Blood Services’ website, or call 1-888-2-DONATE.

by Gates Guarin

Father and daughter team up for milestone blood donation

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