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QUIET HEROES
 Linda Duck, TVR Donor Resources Rep, with Howard Trout
The generosity of a stranger over 40 years ago inspired Howard Trout, Hardeman County's top blood donor to begin a lifetime of donation.
In 1964, Trout's sister had a miscarriage and experienced severe hemorrhaging, leaving her in desperate need of a blood transfusion. However, her blood type was AB negative. No blood of this type was on hand at the hospital, no family members had this blood type, and the hospital was unable to locate anyone on their donor lists to give blood. Matching blood was located in Memphis and Arkansas. It would take over an hour for the bags to reach Union City. An uncle made a plea on the local radio station which announced the critical need for blood every few minutes. A traveling salesman passing through town heard the announcement and immediately went to the hospital.
Trout said he will always be grateful for the generosity of this stranger who helped save his sister's life. At that moment, he decided that becoming a blood donor was the best way to honor the stranger's kindness.
"Nothing I could ever do would repay the generosity of a man whose name I did not know," Trout said. "I did know the gratitude that I felt toward him, and how much one pint of blood meant to the entire family. I decided right then to try to give someone else that feeling."
Since that life-changing day, Trout has donated over 17 gallons of blood, starting with his first - a donation following a multi-car accident.
Trout encourages everyone who is able to donate blood, reminding them that our only source of blood in hospitals is generous blood donors.
"If someone had an accident and needed help, not many people would just ignore them," Trout said. "Life-saving blood is needed every hour of every day; and, when people don't donate, they are, in effect, ignoring someone whose life is in danger."
On June 17, Hardin County Mayor and Red Cross board member Kevin Davis presented a certificate to the Poirier family recognizing them for their generous commitment to blood donation. After the twins, Cassandra and Samantha Poirier began donating at their high school, other family members decided to get involved. Andy Poirier, home on leave from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia also joined the family in this life saving effort. Dean Bullington, chairman of the Red Cross Blood Donor Program in Hardin County, said, "Not everyone will have the opportunity to perform heroic acts. But each of us can make a decision to seek out opportunities to partake in sacrifice and thus in nobility. The Poirier family and others who give the gift of life are my heroes." From left, Sarah White, Samantha Poirier, Mayor Kevin Davis, Cassandra Poirier, Andy Poirier, Sarah Evon Poirier, Jessica Benson and Jason White.
The Minnick women of Donelson visited the Nashville Blood Center together during July's emergency appeal. From left are Meaghan, Mom Robin and Katelyn. It was Katelyn's first donation, but maybe not her last!
Paul Johnson celebrated his 51st year of donating blood by donating his 200th pint on May 7, 2003. Thank you, Paul!
Kathy Wolfe is proud of being a blood donor. She has taken several American Red Cross blood donor T-shirts and created a beautiful collection in fabric.
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