CLC News The news and events from Central Lakes College
For Rose Han, a Central Lakes College PSEO student from Staples Motley High School, donating blood is close to her heart. Blood donations are what gave her an extra couple of years to spend with her grandfather, Don Edwards.
Don was a fixture at the CLC Staples campus (then the Staples Area Vocational Technical School), where he taught math from 1968 to 1995 when he retired. In 2016, he was diagnosed with Pancytopenia, a condition where Don had low counts of each type of blood cells. Because of the condition, Don received blood transfusions every couple of months for the next two and a half years until his passing last year at the age of 86.
Rose and her mother Kathryn Edwards (Don’s daughter) were looking for ways to give back and encourage others to donate blood. That’s why they’re asking folks to give blood at the upcoming drive held by CLC. The college is dedicating the drive to Don.
“I really want to do something for my grandpa,” Rose said. “I know receiving blood helped him have a couple extra years of his life. It’s important for people to know that giving blood helps real people.”
Rose plans to donate for her first time as well at the CLC blood drive.
Kathryn hopes Rose’s involvement in the CLC blood drive will help the grieving process for her daughter.
“Rose helped me go check on him, make sure he was feeling ok,” she said. “She would visit with him in transfusions.”
Don was equally involved in Rose’s life, attending her school and extracurricular activities. Family was important to him. The blood donations meant more time with his family. More grandkids to welcome into the world. More school activities to cheer them on at.
With this blood drive, Rose and Kathryn hope the donations will give other people more time with their loved ones.
Want to donate blood?
Red Cross Blood Drive
Central Lakes College Staples Campus
Wednesday, February 19 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Assembly Room
Reserve your spot: Email Erich.Heppner@clcmn.edu or call 218-855-8260
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