POLOKWANE – Billy Willemse has donated 268 units of blood over the past 47 years in support of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS).
He only realised the importance of blood donation after his child was born prematurely in 1968 and needed a blood transfusion to survive.
“As young parents we were scared and struggled to focus but we prayed for him to pull through. Seeing his little heart beat in that incubator for almost a month made me see God’s power upon our lives because he saved my little boy.”
Today his son is a big man blessed with four children. This is all thanks to the people who donated blood to save his son’s life, states Willemse.
In 1969 he started to donate blood in all seriousness…since then he has never looked back and stays committed to keep it up until he no longer can.
He still thinks the blood transfusion that saved his son’s life is the best gift ever and says thank you when he donates blood every 56 days, which equals six units per year.
Willemse is part of the SANBS committee through which they encourage people to donate blood and save lives. “I even managed to convince seven people in the committee to donate blood and I feel happy about it,” he adds proudly.
The star donor wants to thank his wife, Lettie, for being there for him always, and God for giving him a healthy life. Through the years he received many awards from the SANBS.
He encourages people to donate blood as no one knows what their blood can mean for someone in dire need.
Read the full story in Review Midweek
