Tom

Certified Nurse Anesthetist, Recipient, Donor

Tom is one of the last people you may see or hear in surgery as he speaks those gentle words, “Count backwards from ten . . .” as the medication he administers puts your body to sleep. He works as a Certified Nurse Anesthetist at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton. Over the past twenty-nine years, he has administered blood and blood products to many patients undergoing surgery. The availability of the blood was taken for granted – blood was there when it was needed for the patient.

However, that changed for Tom in August 2005 when he suffered from a severe gastrointestinal tract bleed. Over the course of his hospitalizations, surgeries and treatment, he received 22 units of packed red blood cells. He was a patient at Golden Valley Hospital and Research Medical Center in Kansas City. Both of these facilities receive their blood supply for patients from Community Blood Center in Kansas City. Tom tells us that if it weren’t for generous people who donate blood, his outcome would have been quite different.

Tom often encourages­ people to donate blood. He is always in line when there is a blood dive at Golden Valley. He wants to give back, because when he was in need, someone gave for him. He believes that by giving or donating blood, you can help someone –perhaps a loved one, a family member, or just someone who needs a unit of blood for life. Even though it seems so inadequate, he says, “Thank you”.

Please share your experience as a blood donor or transfusion recipient.