By Kristin Goodwillie, Northwest Region 

For Thomas and Shannon Van Duzor, date nights don’t always involve a dinner or movie. Sometimes, they involve donated platelets together.

The couple, who live in Everett, have turned monthly visits to the Red Cross blood donation center into what they call their “donor date.” This commitment began on their 26^th wedding anniversary last October when they decided to try something different.

“If he goes, I’ll go,” said Shannon, “It’s our donor date.”

What began as a one-time experience soon became routine. For the past seven months, the couple has made the sometimes traffic-riddled drive to donate platelets once a month, spending up to three hours at a time hooked up to a machine that separates platelets from their blood before returning the rest back to them. They say they don’t plan to stop anytime soon.

“It’s a little thing, but it’s a big thing,” said Thomas.

As oftentimes is the case, the decision to donate is rooted in something more personal. Thomas is a cancer survivor, but he says it wasn’t until a conversation at work that he felt compelled to act. His coworker’s young daughter was battling cancer and that tough reality implored him to look for ways to help.

“Just picturing a 4-year-old going through cancer treatment, this is nothing compared to what she has to go through,” said Thomas who plans to donate as long as he can.

Platelets are tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding, and they are critical for patients undergoing cancer treatment, living with chronic illnesses, and recovering from traumatic injuries. 

For Thomas, this is one way to make a difference. “I can’t go into a hospital and save a life, but I can donate platelets which then go into hospitals and help people.”

For Shannon, this experience carries a different kind of meaning. After 26 years of marriage, she sees their donation dates as another way to spend time together while giving back.

She says they still love spending time together and this is one more way to share it. “You’re not just volunteering your time, but you are giving life to help someone else.”

The couple knows they may never meet the people their donations help. Still, they say the effort is worth it for the lives it might help and the time they get to spend side by side.