Giving thanks by giving blood

WORTHINGTON — As someone who anticipates achieving his 13th gallon of blood donated when he visits the American Red Cross Bloodmobile next month, Paul Langseth of rural Worthington has many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

“First of all, you’re thankful for your family and, in my case, my health,” Langseth said. “Giving blood is something you can do that’s renewable. It’s green energy. You can give to somebody who needs it and it can be life-changing for them.”

In the vein of family and donating blood, Langseth said he was inspired as a child by his father, whom he would often accompany when he donated blood.

“My father donated consistently since he came back from the Korean War,” Langseth shared. “I remember he had a 10-gallon pin that he was pretty proud of. I’m sure I went with him at some point in time to donate. He donated and I watched.”

In addition to donating plasma in college, Langseth first donated blood in 1976. Since then, he has donated three pints short of 13 gallons, which he is due to donate when the American Red Cross has a Double Red donation station in Worthington in December, wherein donors can give two pints of blood and then have their plasma returned to them.

When Langseth last went to donate blood in October, he was unable to reach his 13 gallon milestone due to a health issue at the time. A surgery prior to the October donation meant he was unable to donate for an extended period of time.

“I had open heart surgery, which prevented me from donating a number of months,” Langseth said. “And then last month, when I got the Bloodmobile, my blood pressure was elevated above 100 on the bottom side, so I was precluded from donating in October.”

However, he has not let those issues hold him back as he prepares to donate his 13th gallon next month.

“My next donation is in December,” Langseth said. “If I give a double donation, I will reach my 13-gallon pin.”

Langseth’s blood type is O negative, which is compatible with all other blood types, thus making him a universal donor. However, Langseth said he doesn’t see himself as being more obligated to donate blood than others.

“I didn’t know before I donated,” he said. “I went every time that I could. Whether I was O negative or if I was A positive, I would still donate blood. It’s just part of the culture that I grew up in, just helping others however you can. It was just that influence (of seeing my father donate)… I could do something. I don’t think Dad actually said, ‘Go donate.’ I think it was just, ‘Ah, something we do as a family. We do that.’”

Langseth said one of the most selfless things anyone of good health can do for other people is to donate their blood to those who need it most.

“If you’re healthy and above 100 pounds, you can give something of life to somebody else,” he said. “You may not know who that is, so it’s anonymous then. Karma comes back.”

To learn more about donating blood, visit

redcross.org

or

communityblood.org

.

Samuel Martin became a reporter for The Globe in September 2023. He has a bachelor’s degree in media studies from the University of Sioux Falls.