Three times the charm for local donors
The Rodda family has, over the past seven decades, collectively donated 453 units of blood, saving the lives of 1 259 people.
RECENTLY the Durban North Blood Donor Clinic celebrated decades of blood donations from three generations of a Durban North family.
The Rodda family has, over the past seven decades, collectively donated 453 units of blood, saving the lives of 1 259 people. The youngest donor in the family, Aidan, recently donated his first unit of blood days after his 16th birthday.
His father, Greg (50), has donated 164 units, while his mother, Emma (47), has donated 71 units. The tradition of donating blood started with Greg’s father, Arthur (79), who has donated 181 units. June (67), Arthur’s wife, has also donated 36 units.
“When I was a little guy I used to go with my dad when he donated blood, so naturally I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I grew up with the notion that there was always a need for blood, but the first time I truly understood the importance of donating blood was when I was in my late 20’s. After donating I learnt that the unit I had just donated was being rushed to a nearby clinic to save the life of a five-day-old baby with severe jaundice. It reinforced the importance of donating and so we have encouraged our children to do the same,” said Greg.
Granddad, Arthur, said he always felt that it was something that he needed to do.
The youngest member of the family, Sasha (12) has not met the weight requirement to donate, but is equally linked to the importance of donating blood.
At the age of five she was rushed to the emergency room with a bleeding gastric ulcer, a very rare case for someone her age. To save her life doctors had to perform an emergency blood transfusion. “The procedure saved her life. Without the available blood she would not be here today. We are extremely grateful to the donor,” said Emma.
Now young Aidan hopes to catch up to his father and grandfather’s impressive scores.
Sister Joy Pires, of the Durban North Blood Donor Clinic, said blood stocks are critically low at the moment and hoped that the family’s generous tradition would encourage other families to follow suit.
According to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), the donated blood is used to save the lives of patients undergoing surgical operations, people who suffer from cancer or leukaemia, children with severe anaemia, accident victims as well as mothers who face complications during pregnancy or childbirth.
Contact the Durban North Clinic on 031 564 6070 or the SANBS on 0800 11 9031.
