Blood drivin' man: Mac's Walter Wierenga reaches 20-gallon donation mark

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Just after giving blood, Walter Wierenga chooses a snack from Sheri West, collection specialist and driver, in the American Red Cross bloodmobile parked at Golden Valley Brewery on Friday. The longtime donor said he never has a problem with feeling faint.

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Colleen Murphy, account manager for the American Red Cross, presents a certificate to Walter Wierenga of McMinnville on the occasion of donating his 160th pint of blood — 20 gallons in all. Walter also received another one-gallon pin to add to the 19 others lined up on the front of his shirt.

For the 160th time, Walter Wierenga of McMinnville extended his arm Friday so an American Red Cross medic could draw his blood.

He lay back, resting, while about a pint of red fluid filled a collection bag. From there, the blood would be separated into red cells, plasma and platelets that could be used to aid people who were wounded, having surgery or recovering from other medical problems.

Friday’s blood drive, held in the Red Cross’s mobile unit parked at Golden Valley Brewery in McMinnville, marked a milestone for Wierenga. Over six decades, he’s given 20 gallons of blood.

A gallon contains eight pints. If components from each pint of his blood went to three patients, he’s been a hero for at least 480 patients.

But it wasn’t kudos Wierenga sought when he talked with the News-Register. Instead, he wanted his dedication to donating blood to inspire others to do so.

“The Red Cross is always looking for more donors,” he said. “There’s always a need.”

Wierenga was born in the Friesland province of The Netherlands just after World War II. His family moved to Wisconsin when he was 2.

He became aware of the critical need for blood transfusions when he was a boy of 11 or 12. His mother suffered from anemia and an ulcer, so she needed blood treatments. His father donated blood, and so did his brother, Pete, who had served in the Army.

Wierenga first donated blood when he was a student at Dordt College (now university) in Iowa, where he studied education. He and a friend heard about a walk-in blood service center in Sioux City, so they signed up. He was called to give blood twice during his four years at Dordt.

“We were both AB positive,” a rare blood type occurring in only about 3% of the population, he said. “They wanted us. They would never turn AB positive down, as long as we were healthy.”

And he wanted to be there so he could help others.

“Giving blood is a pleasant experience, within reason,” Wierenga said. He feels a prick when the needle goes in, but otherwise the process doesn’t hurt. He said he’s read it even improves donors’ blood flow.

Afterward, the Red Cross insists he eat a snack and have something to drink to replenish his fluids. He’s asked to wait a few minutes to ensure he’s not feeling faint — although fainting has never been a problem, he said.

Wierenga has always driven himself to and from his blood draw appointments. Almost always — sometimes he’s ridden his bicycle instead, he said.

Wierenga graduated and left Sioux City for Cicero, Illinois, where he started his career teaching at Timothy Christian School. Two years later, he and his wife, Linda, moved to Sunnyside, Washington, where he would spend the next 42 years teaching fifth grade at Sunnyside Christian.

The Red Cross had a regular blood donation site in the Sunnyside area, so Wierenga became a regular donor. His wife also donated blood.

“I knew blood was always in low supply and high demand,” he said. “Giving blood was my way to contribute.”

The Wierengas, nearing 58 years of marriage, have lived in McMinnville for a decade. They came here to be closer to their daughters.

He continued his blood donations.

“We’re retired and we’re still healthy; we eat healthfully,” he said. “So why not?”

He has given as often as he can. Donors can contribute to blood drives every eight weeks, if they are healthy. The Red Cross will turn someone away if they are sick or have a condition that might compromise the blood.

Wierenga and his wife traveled to Liberia to attend a wedding one year. Because of the potential exposure to disease related to overseas travel, it was months before he could donate blood again, he said.

Another time, tests showed he had “low iron status.” He had to stop donating for a couple years. These days, he takes iron pills for a couple weeks prior to a donation appointment to ensure his levels are high, he said.

Since his early days as a blood donor, Wierenga has documented all his appointments — not only the dates and locations, but also his blood pressure, body temperature, pulse and hemoglobin level.

He said he hasn’t recorded whether he prayed before each appointment. He knows giving blood helps others and doesn’t hurt him, and he trusts the Red Cross workers to do their jobs well.

But as a man of faith, he said, “I should pray before everything.”

Gift cards for blood donors through February

Anyone who gives blood through the American Red Cross through February can receive a $20 merchant card of their choice. To register for a time to give blood, go to redcrossblood.org.

Upcoming drives are:

-- Friday, Feb. 13, noon to 5 p.m., Willamette Valley Medica Center, 2700 S.E. Stratus Ave., McMinnville

-- Friday, Feb. 13, noon to 4:30 p.m., Newberg Public Safety Building, 401. E. Third St., McMinnville

-- Wednesday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Riley Campus Center, Linfield University, 2 Campus Dr., McMinnville

-- Thursday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First Baptist Church, 125 S.E. Cowls St., McMinnville

-- Thursday, Feb 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., McMinnville High School, 615 E. 15th St., McMinnville