For many donors, donating blood or platelets is measured one appointment at a time. For Ken Gemble, those appointments have added up to something extraordinary. At 79 years old, Ken has made 675 lifetime appointments given more than 124 gallons and is approaching his 1000th blood product donation this fall. While the numbers are remarkable, Even more meaningful is his commitment to keep showing up for patients and inspiring others.
Ken’s journey started in 1974, when a colleague asked if he was going to be donating at the office blood drive. He said yes and has never missed an appointment since. Over the years, platelet donations have become a regular part of Ken’s life, and a reminder of the challenges others may be facing.
“I never realized the burdens these people were carrying,” Ken said. “You don't know the pain people are carrying with them every day.”
That perspective is one of the reasons he continues to give- and why his impact has extended beyond the donor chair.
In addition to being a donor, he is also a volunteer, helping at mobile blood drives and transporting lifesaving blood products to hospitals. Those trips have given him an even closer look at what happens after the donation.
“When I go to the hospitals on these emergency calls - whether I’m walking into the emergency department or the center - and I see the people waiting for their relatives or whoever it is, you can see the pain,” said Ken. “It just rips my heart out. It's like, I can do this - why don't more people?” Whether platelets are needed by someone undergoing cancer treatment, facing major surgery or recovering from a serious injury, Ken knows each donation has a patient waiting for it.
Ken also loves to share his passion for donating. “I meet so many people from wearing a Versiti shirt,” He said “I wear them all the time. I’ll have somebody say, ‘Are you a platelet donor?’ Then I get into my story.”
He especially enjoys encouraging first time donors who may be nervous about giving. As a volunteer and a smiling face at mobile drives, Ken is happy to stay by their side and help make the experience a little easier. “I'll stand with you.” He tells them. “I can tell you some cool stories about things and help you get relaxed.”
Ken lives by the personal mantra: “Every day and every way, I keep getting better and better - mentally, physically, morally, and spiritually.” For him, donating and volunteering are part of living out that philosophy, giving him the opportunity to give what he can, connect with others and make the world a better place.
When Ken started donating more than 50 years ago, he didn’t know that this is what his donor journey would hold. It’s not the milestones that keep him coming back; it’s the patients. Ken’s advice is simple for those who have thought about donating but haven’t taken that first step: “Just try it one time.”
Ken’s 1,000th product donation is an extraordinary milestone, but every one of those products began the same way: with a decision to show up for someone who needed him.
You may never meet the patient who receives your platelets. You may never know their name or hear their story. But as Ken has learned over a lifetime of giving, “As a platelet donor, you never know if the person you walk by is someone whose life you helped save.”
Schedule an appointment today. Your platelets can make a lifesaving difference.
