It does not take a cape and superhero costume to help save a life, as Donald Bender from the Department of Information Technology at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center well knows. Bender has been a platelet donor for a little more than a year. His monthly donations at the donor center on Hope Drive go to help save the lives of Medical Center patients.
He first began donating platelets when the brother of his good friend was diagnosed with leukemia. Although his friend was in Philadelphia, Bender showed his support by donating here in Hershey. He also was influenced to become a donor when he volunteered during his department’s yearly gift to the children in pediatric oncology. Bender, touched by the brave children he met and being a father of two children himself, wanted to help in some way. Some of his platelet donations now benefit pediatric cancer patients.
Bender has been able to give nine times since he began. As a platelet donor, he is able to give every four weeks, unlike donating blood, which limits donations to every two months. At times, he even is able to give a double platelet donation in a single visit.
“I give platelets for the sake of doing good,” Bender said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Medical Center and College of Medicine employees are encouraged to join Bender by giving blood and platelets at donor centers located on Hope Drive and on the third floor of the hospital.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to become a donor, call 717-531-8283.