Kayce Vrana did not plan to donate blood when she accompanied her dad, Tony to the Tomah Health / Versiti Blood drive at Tomah Recreation Park May 2. But Kayce changed her mind and joined her dad in donating whole blood. “My dad had an appointment, and I was going to watch, but they convinced me at the check-in to donate too,” said Kayce.
The Vranas were among 78 donors who provided enough blood products to treat 216 patients during the two-day drive held May 1 & 2.
Even though it was her first time donating, Kayce said she was glad to help the effort. “They came over here and got everything set, but I did not watch that part because I don’t like watching needles. I’m fine with anything else but I get, like, queasy taking blood and that kind of stuff,” Kayce explained.
Tony said he was proud of his daughter. “I didn’t think she was going to donate. She was just going to watch and then she decided to do it. I was a little bit nervous for her, but she did great,” said Tony.
The Vranas admitted they were not aware that the blood collected during the Tomah drives helps to support nearly 50 hospitals in Wisconsin including Tomah Health. “That’s really nice that it stays within the community, and you know the people around you are being directly affected by that,” added Kayce.
Both Kayce and Tony said they plan to continue donating blood. “I definitely will tell friends. It’s easy to do. It’s really a good thing and it’s for a good cause,” said Tony. “We kind of made a challenge on who could get done first and I won. I don’t get to win too many times anymore,” he added.
Versiti Blood Center account representative Emalea Cogdill said Tomah area donors continue to support area drives. “The donors at the Tomah Health drive this past week stepped up to the challenge. We continue to see new donors give and so many loyal donors that donate every nine weeks. Hopefully in July all of these donors return to help us save more local lives,” said Cogdill. “Of the 78 donors we saw, 12 were first time Versiti donors.” Tomah area residents can donate during the next scheduled Versiti / Tomah Health blood drive July 17 & 18.