“That was good stick, kid,” said Larry Peterson with a laugh to phlebotomist Andrea Mason as she poked his arm. Larry came into the Wilmar Community Center to donate his 25th gallon of blood on Tuesday, January 28. The previous week, he had attempted to donate, but his blood pressure was too high – a sign of his excitement for the special occasion.
On December 7, 1960, Larry, who was 19 years old at the time, came to a Red Cross blood drive in his hometown of Montevideo, Minnesota, with his father to donate blood together. It was his father’s 10th gallon that day, and Larry decided to donate his first pint on the next bed over from his dad. Larry didn’t know it at the time, but this was the beginning of a lifelong adventure. Over the course of his lifetime, Larry has donated well over 200 pints of blood, with many of his donations being Power Red donations. Larry’s gifts of life have potentially helped save hundreds of lives.
(Photo by Red Cross volunteer Nate Russell.)
He carries a binder with him that contains newspaper articles detailing his blood donation, letters of notification for when his blood was used to save a life, and his blood donor cards dating back to the very first one in 1960. Now it has a new front page, which is his certificate congratulating him on reaching his 25th gallon milestone.
(Photo by Red Cross volunteer Nate Russell.)
Larry’s blood type is O negative, which is the most universal blood type – which can be transfused to anyone. It is often used in emergencies, trauma and surgery when a patient’s blood type is unknown.
Larry plans to continue donating lifesaving blood for many more years and many more gallons to come. And as it happens, his son is also O negative, so the family tradition of saving lives can continue.
(Photo by Red Cross volunteer Nate Russell.)
To learn more about donating Type O blood, click here.
Story by American Red Cross volunteer Nate Russell.
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 