January is Blood donation month and Living Resources’ staff member Cathi Butryn wants to spread the word!

Blood donation is a very personal matter to Cathi. When she was in elementary school, her father was diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues. Her family often organized blood drives to compensate for his frequent need for life- saving transfusions. Since Cathi was too young to donate, she took on the role of cheerleader, giving out stickers, cookies, and juice to those who participated, but she longed for the time when she could do more. When she reached the eligible age of 17, she was frustratingly sidelined due to medical issues of her own.  As time went on, she gave up trying, believing that blood donation would never be possible for her. That was until 2022 when the American Red Cross of Eastern New York teamed up with CEOs in the Capital Region for a “Blood Battle.” Living Resources joined the friendly competition, working at blood drives and encouraging people to donate.

This was the motivation Cathi needed to battle her own demons, meeting with her doctor to review her past medical history and current state of health. Once given a green light from her doctor, Cathi immediately registered. As if to test her resolve, on morning of her appointment the region was hit with a powerful winter storm, but after 40 years of waiting, nothing was going to stand in her way. Once the weather abated and the plows made the roads passable, she brushed the foot of snow off her car and took off for Albany.

Remembering that day, Cathi said, “The Red Cross employees were a hardy crew, extremely upbeat and encouraging, even more so after they heard it was my first time donating. Their masterful balance of joking and attentive care helped put my 50+ year-old nerves at ease. It wasn’t until after the procedure was completed when they asked me how I felt that a tear escaped and ran down my cheek. In that moment, I had become deeply aware of the presence of my dad who passed away when I was 16. I whispered to his spirit, ‘This was for you!’”

Three years later, Cathi is a seasoned pro, making regular appointments to donate blood. She is a proud “power red” donor, giving two units of red blood cells during one session through a specialized machine. Through this process, she knows she can help double the amount of people with each donation.

She said, “Donating blood is still a powerfully emotional experience for me. In 2023, cancer struck my family a second time, taking my stepfather on the anniversary of my father’s passing. While I will never meet those who receive my blood, I feel a profound connection with them and their families. I whisper a prayer that my donation will help alleviate their illness or injury and that they will be come to a place of healing.”

If you are able, we, together with Cathi, urge you to make an appointment to donate blood today! Go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

Your donation could save a life!