Despite dropping blood donation rates during the pandemic, Paul Inskeep hit his 125 gallon milestone after donating consistently most of his life.
“I just felt there was a need for years ago when I started and it just kind of mushroomed,” Inskeep said, “and they asked me to donate platelets and I just stayed with it, and I plan on staying with it.”
Inskeep began donating blood in 1983 and switched to donating platelets in 1992. With these, patients, like cancer survivor Natalie Abreu-Horne, can undergo treatments and surgeries.
“I can’t thank people enough that donate blood and platelets and marrow to save people’s lives that they don’t even know,” Abreu-Horne said. “That’s truly the only reason I’m here right now, it’s because of them.”
Platelets last only five days after being collected, which makes their demand constant.
“There were days that I was in the hospital waiting for platelets, because there were no platelets,” Abreu-Horne said.
Inskeep has saved countless lives with his donations and hopes to reach 300 gallons in his lifetime.
“I’m just happy to be able to help them out,” Inskeep said. “I’m honored to help them out.”
