100 Gallons of Blood from One Person

Vendy Martin now has company. LifeStream blood bank’s first female to reach 100 gallons in lifesaving blood donations was joined recently by Evelyn Adair, who became the seventh LifeStream donor to reach the 100-gallon plateau. Adair, 86, was accompanied to LifeStream’s San Bernardino Donor Center by her daughters Shelley (also a member of LifeStream’s 10-Gallon Donor Club) and Robin. The landmark donation was the culmination of nearly 70 years donating blood. “I first donated when I was 17,” she recalled. “There was a specific need and it sounded like a good thing to do. I just went on from there. I just enjoy doing it and know it’s helping someone.” Adair is quick to give her daughters credit for their roles in her ability to continue to donate blood. Shelley and Robin alternate as “chauffeur” for their mother, enabling Adair to concentrate on the job at hand. “We’re very proud of her,” said Robin. “She’s an inspiration to our family.” Shelley and Robin also noticed a change in their mom’s demeanor on “100-gallon day.” “She is usually very quiet while she donates, but today she is so happy,” Robin said. “And she deserves it.” Throughout the donation and presentations that followed, Adair kept insisting she was “nothing special.” “Nothing special? I beg to differ,” said Dr. Joe Chaffin, LifeStream’s vice president/chief medical officer, to loud applause as LifeStream personnel and donors surrounded Adair. “This is an extraordinary achievement. Just think of the generations of hospital patients she has helped.” One of Adair’s secrets to maintaining her donation habit is a strong iron count. “The meat department at our local market knows us very well,” related Robin with a smile. “We regularly purchase five, 1-pound bags of liver. They’re for mom to help keep her up her iron level. Not every customer asks for that.” Adair defended her choice. “I add a couple of things to it, but I like liver,” she said. A Fontana resident for more than 60 years, Adair retired in her late 60s after working 29 years for the Fontana Unified School District as an aide to special education students. LifeStream is a local, nonprofit blood bank that provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals. For more information or to set an appointment visit LStream.org.