More than 14 bodies worth of blood in 51 years.
That鈥檚 how much Gregory Byron has donated after he finished his 157th donation on Dec. 24.
鈥淭he reason I keep coming, it鈥檚 a very noble cause to give blood, and it鈥檚 very empowering to think you could save three lives with one pint of blood,鈥� said Byron.
He started donating blood at 17, in 1969 the same week that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, and he isn鈥檛 planning on stopping any time soon.
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鈥淚 feel no different, I know you have to replenish your blood, but the next day I feel fine,鈥� said Byron. 鈥淚 just keep going, I鈥檓 healthy so why not.鈥�
The average blood donation is about 450ml, and there are about 5 litres of blood on average inside the human body.
More importantly, with each donation capable of saving two to three lives, he has provided enough blood for 471 life-saving transfusions, so far.
Byron gives blood at every opportunity, noting that it used to be limited to four times a year, although that restriction has now changed to allow men to donate once every 56 days, which usually equals six times in a year.
鈥淚 actually gave blood seven times in one year,鈥� said Byron. 鈥淚f you give right at the beginning of the year, you can get in for seven times.鈥�
The speed and ease of drawing blood is another change that Byron noted, with the whole experience having taken much longer before. He recalled how some of his previous times had taken over 20 minutes for the donation, with the entire appointment taking up to two hours.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so easy now,鈥� said Byron. 鈥淚t took six-and-a-half minutes to give blood, and I just phoned my wife and she said 鈥榊ou鈥檙e done already?鈥�
He also wants to take the opportunity to ask for other people to step up and donate blood.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so empowering, to know you can really make a difference. It鈥檚 not a major sacrifice, it鈥檚 a generous sacrifice. Why not?鈥�
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