200th pint in the bag
NORTHGATE – If one pint of blood saves three lives, this lifelong blood donor has probably saved about 600 lives over the last three decades.
Two hundred pints of blood donated over 34 years.
Bromhof resident and lifelong blood donor Brett Pheiffer have officially donated his 200th bag of blood. Having started almost 34 years ago at the age of 17, on October 7 he reached his massive goal of 200 blood donations at the Northgate Branch of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). Pheiffer expressed, “Two hundred was the goal. I’ve been praying that God would let me get to 200 because I really wanted to and any more that comes after this will be a bonus. The more lives saved the better.”
After watching his grandfather donate a total of 145 pints of blood, Pheiffer and his brother were inspired to do the same. “My brother and I wanted to at least get to the 145 mark, my brother managed to get to 150 before he had to stop due to health reasons but I kept going.”
From the age of 17 he started donating with his first pint of blood being drawn at his school hall in Brackenhurst, Alberton, in 1987. Almost 34 years later not only did he reach the targeted milestone but also eclipsed it. Pheiffer has also gotten his family into the blood donating spirit as on the day his wife donated her 80th pint while two of his three sons are also regular donors.
The family doesn’t end their life-saving missions there as they are all open water lifeguards as well. Pheiffer added, “Everyone in the family is trying to save lives, in the water and out.”
A commitment that has run for this long is clearly one that comes from the heart. Apart from potentially saving three lives with every bag of blood donated, he has been encouraged by an old SANBS poster with a child on it and words that he will never forget. “It had a picture of a little baby with text that said their need for your blood is greater than your fear of the needle.”
He shared this, hoping that those that are fearful of donating understand that they really are making a difference in the lives of many and fears of needles should not pull one away from such. He also hopes that more people can come on board to donate as there is always a need for blood and all blood types as well. “Don’t be scared, it’s a prick of a needle and you save lives. Surely the prick of the needle is worth saving all these lives.”
Related Article:
