Hundreds of gracious Jesuit students pile into the Terry Center, eagerly waiting their turn to have a monstrous needle puncture their skin, courageously overcoming their anxiety and pain in order to donate their blood to those in need. On Wednesday, October 21, Jesuit hosted their annual fall blood drive in the Terry Center.
A remarkable total of 162 students donated blood, a record for the fall blood drive. Amazed by the incredible turnout, Mr. Perry “was shocked” as just three days before the drive only 30 students signed up to participate in the event. Optimistically hoping to get over one hundred students to donate, Mr. Perry told Carter Blood Care, who administers the blood donations, that Jesuit “would get up to 120,” that number by itself an “immense success” according to Mr. Perry, but “we blew that away,” he said, “surpassing our goal.”
Along with the fall blood drive, Jesuit also hosts one in the spring semester. Having participated in the blood drive for over 20 plus years, “Jesuit does the maximum amount of blood drives that a school can do each year which is two,” according to Mr. Perry. “They need to be adequately spaced out so that everyone who gave at the fall drive has the 56 days in between to give in the spring. Usually, our fall drive is our small drive, but we proved that wrong this year,” said an elated Mr. Perry.
Going towards an excellent cause, a majority of the blood donated will be given to local patients fighting cancer in the DFW area. Mr. Perry stressed the importance of the fall blood drive and how donations are constantly needed, especially in the winter, saying, “The blood supply at Jesuit has been steady, but it’s always a critical time in the winter months for those who are battling cancer to have an adequate supply of blood during their treatment time.”
One of the Jesuit students who donated was Will Naquin ‘17, who overcame feelings of sickness he experienced while giving blood, focusing on how his donation will potentially help those suffering and in need, telling the Roundup that “About halfway through I felt nauseous and my vision blurred, but I persevered because it was for a good cause.” Participating in the event alongside Naquin, Thomas Whitaker ‘17 commented, “I enjoyed donating blood as I had previously never done so at Jesuit. I will definitely donate in the spring later this year as well as in my senior year.”
If you didn’t participate in the blood drive this semester, you have another chance to donate blood in the spring. Don’t waste this excellent opportunity to significantly help cancer patients in need.
