Everyday superheroes
by Sharon Higa | June 14, 2021
Superheroes walk among us every day. They might not wear capes or have magical powers, but these true heroes voluntarily give the lifesaving gift of blood. World Blood Donor Day, June 14, raises global awareness that safe blood and blood products are vitally needed and acknowledges the critical contributions of voluntary, unpaid donors. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and one donation can potentially save up to three lives.
In a recent media interview, Dr. Kim-Anh Nguyen, Blood Bank of Hawaii president and CEO, said the reason people don’t donate blood is often because they don’t get asked.
Hawaiian Electric’s Operations & Compliance attorney team took this challenge to heart and asked colleagues to participate in a blood drive.
The one-month campaign also was a friendly competition and resulted in donations of blood and blood platelets capable of saving up to 135 lives. It earned the Operations & Compliance team bragging rights for encouraging the most donations, which they parlayed into a small cash donation to the Blood Bank of Hawaii.
The group’s managing counsel, Wendee Hilderbrand, donated regularly while living on the mainland but had been unable to do so in Hawaii because of scheduling conflicts. Hilderbrand was motivated by the drive to make her first donation in Hawaii.
“One of the silver linings of the pandemic, though, is that it has given us all time to reprioritize and make time for the important stuff. Blood donation is the important stuff, and I look forward to my next donation,” said Hilderbrand.
Another member of the team, Ria Zander, senior associate general counsel, also found the challenge helpful in conquering the usual qualms about donating blood. “I’m not a big fan of needles, so this was my first time volunteering to donate blood. It only took 10 minutes and afterward it felt really great to know my blood donation would help someone in need.”
Zander recalled how one volunteer was turned away at the donation site but didn’t give up. Instead, she talked her husband into taking her appointment! Another volunteer was so inspired by the challenge, he was able to overcome his inhibitions and donate blood for the first time ever. “He said it was definitely worth it knowing he made a positive impact and potentially helped save lives.”
Rodney Chong, Hawaiian Electric telecommunications director, said, “This was the first time in over a year that I donated, due to the pandemic and the lack of blood drives at our Ward facility (for safety reasons). I have been a longtime donor and know how important it is. This service project was just the incentive I needed to start donating blood again.”
Thao Tran, who jumped from the Legal Department to Human Resources during the blood drive, still found time to support the team.
“I hadn’t donated blood since I was in my 20s,” added John Moore, senior associate general counsel. “When I heard how many people could be helped by just one donation, I decided that I needed to be involved. The donation process was so easy that I will likely donate again later this year.”
To all blood donors near and far, you are truly superheroes and the world needs more like you!
For a list of blood donation sites in Hawaii, visit www.bbh.org.
Sharon Higa is a senior communications consultant at Hawaiian Electric Company.
