By: Noora Fatima, American Red Cross
After decades upon decades of lifetime blood donation, Pearl Gruenke has retired after donating her 28th gallon of blood. Gruenke’s father inspired her lifelong habit of donating blood. When Gruenke’s younger sister passed away from leukemia in 1958, her father began to donate, searching for an outlet to help others in a time that didn’t allow for much more than blood transfusions. As Gruenke grew up and reached the minimum age to donate blood, she followed her father’s footsteps and made it a routine to travel to an American Red Cross donation site and give blood. This routine became a part of Gruenke, following throughout both her life and the lives of those near her.
“My husband was donating already before I married him, and so it was something that we did together, and we just thought we were helping to save lives. I felt good about it…I just always felt like it was kind of like a duty, and that’s why I did it,” Gruenke shared.
Gruenke’s commitment to blood donation lasted for almost 30 to 40 years. “When I completed the 28th [gallon of blood], I thought- this is it,” she says with a note of satisfaction. “I’m proud. I know there are many more people that give many more times than that- but for me, I’m proud.”
In Gruenke’s giving of 28 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross, she has potentially impacted 672 hospital patients. Gruenke says that her motivation to give is to make a difference in the lives of those who are in need of blood. She expresses pride that she had the ability to donate, noting how she adopted the act of blood donation as a responsibility to help people that need it. Despite having finished with the act of physically donating blood, Gruenke’s blood donation legacy continues. Just like she followed in her father’s footsteps, her family has followed in hers.
“Now my daughter gives, and my grandson gives, and I’m kind of proud of that,” Gruenke said. “I know there are so many people right around me…and if they would just go [donate] one time, they would give more, but I think they’re afraid to go the first time…It’s a choice that you individually have to make.”
Feeling inspired by Pearl Gruenke’s story to learn more about blood donation? Visit redcrossblood.org for more information and to book your blood donation appointment.
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