Borris’ man makes 100th donation
‘Give Blood, Save Lives’ - that is the slogan displayed on the website of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), and it is the critical message which the organisation conveys in all its adverts and campaigns. Any healthy person out there who has the capacity to donate could do worse than to heed those four words. And If they need encouragement or inspiration, they need look no further Mackey Brennan.
Some weeks ago the cheerful Borrisokane man made his one-hundredth donation of blood - a monumental personal milestone and an indicator, perhaps, of his qualities as a person. The 77-year-old was rewarded with a coveted porcelain pelican, a unique award which is both stunning and symbolic in equal measure. Reflecting on his feat, Mackey admits to being proud and explains that giving blood is one of the most important things a healthy person can do. Every drop of blood contributed makes a real difference to the lives of vulnerable patients and helps to support the overall healthcare system. It also gives him a psychological boost. After all, nothing could be more life affirming than knowing that you have helped those most in need.
“I always feel better after doing it,” he says. “I don’t know what it is, but I always feel better.”
Deeply personal gesture
For Mackey, giving blood is a deeply personal gesture. His journey as a blood donor began in 1971. His sister, Anne, was suffering from leukemia at the time and required blood transfusions. Anne would ultimately pass away from the illness. Mackey still misses her to this day but to him giving blood is a way of carrying on her legacy. It has also become somewhat of a family tradition - each of his children are regular donors.
As medical science has evolved, so too has the process of giving blood. Back in the seventies, when Mackey first started, people might only get the opportunity to donate once a year. Nowadays, they can contribute up to four times annually, and blood donation clinics are far more abundant. The IBTS website offers a portal through which users can find a clinic, check their eligibility and learn about how their blood is used. Mackey jokes that he might be on 150 or 200 donations had those resources and opportunities been in place back in the seventies and eighties, but doesn’t mind. He isn’t doing it to break records.
When he first started donating, he says blood donors were rewarded with a bottle of Guinness to revive themselves immediately afterwards. He jokes that it wasn’t a bad prize to receive, but admits that times have changed and he is now just as content with a cup of tea and a few biscuits. “You’ll always get something,” he laughs. “Maybe not Guinness, but you’ll always get something.”
Mackey is a good-natured man with a clear sense of humour, but his message to people is a serious one, and it is timely as well. Some weeks ago, the IBTS issued another new warning about dwindling blood stocks. Writing in The Journal, the president of the Irish Medical Council Dr Suzanne Crowe emphasised how “Ireland’s stocks are a lifeline for patients, but the system is under strain”. The gap between donations and the demand for transfusions is widening both nationally and internationally, she said, arguing that the Irish service is in need of a “significant upgrade”. Better infrastructure might encourage more donations, and “help people to help each other”. Alongside that, however, stories like Mackey’s are powerful motivators. 55 years and 100 donations later, the Borrisokane man is still going strong. He has probably saved many lives as a result of his donations down through the years. And he has enriched his own life, too.