Published: Thursday, February 28, 2008
Arlington man's hooked on donating blood
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Kevin Nortz / The Herald
Dennis Dahlke talks with resident nurse Terri Cottrell (left) on Wednesday while donating blood platelets at the Puget Sound Blood Center. "I probably thought I could meet a girl or something," said Dahlke of the first time he donated at 18.
Blood out. Blood in.
Every two weeks Dennis Dahlke donates blood platelets at the Everett office of the Puget Sound Blood Center.
The 54-year-old Arlington man relaxes for an hour or so in a special recliner and watches TV while a machine takes his blood, removes the platelets and then pumps the blood back into his arm.
Platelets, which are small cell fragments in the blood that help blood to clot, are then made available to those who've been in traumatic car accidents, been severely burned or who have cancer and require transfusions.
Dahlke says he's no hero.
The longtime Boeing employee has rolled up his sleeve hundreds of times; donating blood is just part of his routine.
"I have the blood, so why not share it when there are all these people who need it?" Dahlke said. "Not donating would be like bringing a box of doughnuts to the crew meeting (at work) and not sharing."
Staffers at the Everett blood center are well-acquainted with Dahlke, who has donated there for about 20 years. He sits in the same chair each time he donates and has even brought his birthday cakes to share with the group.
"Dennis is a good guy. Always a smile on his face. And he knows how we depend on his blood," Everett supervisor Tom Coward said.
The blood platelets have to be used within five days and Puget Sound Blood Center supports hospitals throughout Western Washington, Coward said.
The World War II generation historically has been the blood center's biggest base of support, he said.
"But they are dying off and it continually gets tougher to put together a supply of blood," Coward said. "People don't realize that this is an easy, painless way to help others."
For those who don't have much time to volunteer in their communities, giving a blood donation can take just 30 minutes, Coward said.
"And we feed you good refreshments," he said.
After serving in the Air Force, Dahlke moved to Snohomish County and began working for Boeing. He and his wife, Lin, have two daughters and two grandchildren. Dahlke is active in his church in Marysville and often volunteers to help others.
The reason he began donating blood was not so altruistic, he said with a grin.
"I was 18 and going to community college. I probably thought it was fun and that I would get something to eat and that maybe I would meet a girl," Dahlke said.
Back then nurses in white caps served cookies after people donated blood, Dahlke said.
These days, Dahlke skips the cookies but lingers over a cup of hot coffee. The process of platelet removal cools the blood and the body, he said.
Dahlke has given nearly 150 whole blood donations and nearly 100 platelet donations.
At the Everett office of the Puget Sound Blood Center, Dahlke's name is listed on a Tree of Life sculpture hung on the waiting room wall.
He is joined there by the likes of Snohomish County residents Clifford Stevens and Scott Eiler, who have more than 300 donations, as well as Robert Hungerschafer, who has a record-holding title with more than 500 donations, Coward said.
Dahlke admits he's hooked on donating.
"It's a small commitment really," he said. "But over the years I have known people who really needed blood. You get a good feeling from donating."
Dahlke has passed on that good feeling to his daughter Linzie.
An 18-year-old freshman at Everett Community College, Linzie Dahlke is making whole blood donations on a regular basis.
"Ever since I can remember, Dad would come home with the bandage on his arm and tell me how he donated blood to save lives," Linzie said.
"My dad is a really sweet guy."
Dahlke said the thought of Linzie joining him on the Tree of Life sculpture someday makes him very happy.
"Someday I hope to donate as much he has," Linzie said. "I've given blood five times now, so I'm on my way."
Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
To donate
The Everett donation office of the Puget Sound Blood Center is open Tuesday through Saturday at 2703 Oakes Ave. To schedule a whole blood donation, call 800-398-7888. To schedule a platelet donation, call 800-266-4033.
Every two weeks Dennis Dahlke donates blood platelets at the Everett office of the Puget Sound Blood Center.
The 54-year-old Arlington man relaxes for an hour or so in a special recliner and watches TV while a machine takes his blood, removes the platelets and then pumps the blood back into his arm.
Platelets, which are small cell fragments in the blood that help blood to clot, are then made available to those who've been in traumatic car accidents, been severely burned or who have cancer and require transfusions.
Dahlke says he's no hero.
The longtime Boeing employee has rolled up his sleeve hundreds of times; donating blood is just part of his routine.
"I have the blood, so why not share it when there are all these people who need it?" Dahlke said. "Not donating would be like bringing a box of doughnuts to the crew meeting (at work) and not sharing."
Staffers at the Everett blood center are well-acquainted with Dahlke, who has donated there for about 20 years. He sits in the same chair each time he donates and has even brought his birthday cakes to share with the group.
"Dennis is a good guy. Always a smile on his face. And he knows how we depend on his blood," Everett supervisor Tom Coward said.
The blood platelets have to be used within five days and Puget Sound Blood Center supports hospitals throughout Western Washington, Coward said.
The World War II generation historically has been the blood center's biggest base of support, he said.
"But they are dying off and it continually gets tougher to put together a supply of blood," Coward said. "People don't realize that this is an easy, painless way to help others."
For those who don't have much time to volunteer in their communities, giving a blood donation can take just 30 minutes, Coward said.
"And we feed you good refreshments," he said.
After serving in the Air Force, Dahlke moved to Snohomish County and began working for Boeing. He and his wife, Lin, have two daughters and two grandchildren. Dahlke is active in his church in Marysville and often volunteers to help others.
The reason he began donating blood was not so altruistic, he said with a grin.
"I was 18 and going to community college. I probably thought it was fun and that I would get something to eat and that maybe I would meet a girl," Dahlke said.
Back then nurses in white caps served cookies after people donated blood, Dahlke said.
These days, Dahlke skips the cookies but lingers over a cup of hot coffee. The process of platelet removal cools the blood and the body, he said.
Dahlke has given nearly 150 whole blood donations and nearly 100 platelet donations.
At the Everett office of the Puget Sound Blood Center, Dahlke's name is listed on a Tree of Life sculpture hung on the waiting room wall.
He is joined there by the likes of Snohomish County residents Clifford Stevens and Scott Eiler, who have more than 300 donations, as well as Robert Hungerschafer, who has a record-holding title with more than 500 donations, Coward said.
Dahlke admits he's hooked on donating.
"It's a small commitment really," he said. "But over the years I have known people who really needed blood. You get a good feeling from donating."
Dahlke has passed on that good feeling to his daughter Linzie.
An 18-year-old freshman at Everett Community College, Linzie Dahlke is making whole blood donations on a regular basis.
"Ever since I can remember, Dad would come home with the bandage on his arm and tell me how he donated blood to save lives," Linzie said.
"My dad is a really sweet guy."
Dahlke said the thought of Linzie joining him on the Tree of Life sculpture someday makes him very happy.
"Someday I hope to donate as much he has," Linzie said. "I've given blood five times now, so I'm on my way."
Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
To donate
The Everett donation office of the Puget Sound Blood Center is open Tuesday through Saturday at 2703 Oakes Ave. To schedule a whole blood donation, call 800-398-7888. To schedule a platelet donation, call 800-266-4033.
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