Blood drives save lives in U.S.
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Nenia Thompson received the Blood Hero of the Year award from the American Red Cross on March 22 during a blood drive at Andrews First United Methodist Church.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross reports that more than 27,000 blood drive events have been canceled due to health concerns of citizens resulting in 86,000 fewer blood donations but one event that has kept going are the Community Blood Drives at the Andrews First United Methodist Church.
There is a blood shortage across the United States, according to redcross.org, with the number of blood drive cancellations continuing to increase across the country. This shortage could impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents, cancer patients and other emergencies.
The Western North Carolina American Red Cross Chapter recognized Nenia Thompson and the volunteers at Andrews First United Methodist Church for going above and beyond to increase the amount of blood donated during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Megan Robinson, executive director of the Western North Carolina Chapter of the Red Cross said since 1994, the Andrews First United Methodist Church volunteers headed by Nenia Thompson has been able to retrieve 4,739 units of blood which is the equivalent of saving 14,000 lives in the area.
The Western North Carolina Chapter provides for 16 counties, including Cherokee. The blood goes to help patients in rural hospitals such as Cherokee Indian, Haywood, Swain and other rural hospitals; however, it does not go to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Peachtree.
Allyson Cole, Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital public relations and marketing assistant, said the hospital uses Blood Assurance, which is located in Chattanooga, Tenn., and serves facilities in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Always willing to help
Robinson said the Red Cross is recognizing Thompson as Blood Hero of the Year because of her dedication to hosting blood drives, volunteering and rallying the community to lend a helping hand. They are also recognizing Andrews First United Methodist Church for Outstanding Community Service.
“We wanted to recognize her because she has been able to connect with so many people, which is rare for a small community like Andrews,” Robinson said.
Sherry Clontz, district manager for the Western North Carolina Chapter, said she has worked alongside Thompson for more than 25 years, commending her for being a blood program leader for more than 30 years.
“She has her own team that volunteers, and they are all very dedicated and a good group,” Clontz said. “She is committed to always helping out and willing to help out when other blood drives were canceled.”
Blood drives are an important event within any community as they provide life-saving units of blood to people in medical need. Thompson said the national blood shortage is at rock bottom, with just enough blood to support day-to-day needs at hospitals.
“It’s very important because we can’t be without blood for people, there is no other substitute. We have to have it,” she said.
Each year, the Red Cross presents awards to local heroes who have saved lives, made positive differences in their community or exemplified the Red Cross mission in some way. Thompson has done all those and many more for Cherokee County throughout her life, which is why she was given the Heroes Award from the Red Cross on Monday.
A hero among us
Thompson has been a volunteer in the community for more than 40 years and has donated over 10 gallons of her blood to help save the lives of many.
Thompson, a lifelong native of Cherokee County, graduated from Andrews High School in 1969, knowing she wanted to be a nurse after being a candy-striper at District Memorial Hospital in Andrews. She married her high school sweetheart, Joe, in 1970 and attended classes at Western Carolina University. Thompson was one of the first to graduate within the bachelor of science nursing program in 1973.
Thompson said knew from an early age she wanted to be a nurse.
“My mom was a nurse and I would listen to her and her buddies talk about their day and how it went on the floor,” Thompson said. “They would tell funny stories and things that made them cry. I knew I wanted to do that.” Thompson said she came home to Andrews after graduating from college and the next day began working at District Memorial. A week later, she was named the nightshift charge nurse.
Working for the public
Thompson enjoyed working at the hospital, but she dreamed of working in at the Cherokee County Health Department. In 1974, she was hired as a public health nurse.
Thompson had been a blood donor since she was in school and enjoyed the activism behind the service. In her seven years at the health department, Thompson helped with the community outreach by hosting blood drives and actively began volunteering with the Red Cross.
“We had to find a place to host the blood drive and I was able to contact Andrews United Methodist and held the first blood drive in the sanctuary,” Thompson said. “We would get 30-35 pints of blood each time, and my students went on to help volunteer at the blood drives as well.”
Thompson took some time off from her career to raise her daughter, Rebekah, before returning to work in 1981 for Cherokee County Schools. Thompson retired from teaching allied health science at Murphy High School in 2007 after 26 years.
She loves to see her students out in the field and is proud anytime she sees them.
“Every department at the hospital has at least two or three of my students in them, some in management positions,” Thompson said, beaming. “I got to teach the best of them, and they taught me, too, over the years and made me a better person in the long run.”
Thompson would train the seniors in the allied health sciences to certify them through the state as a Level 1 Certified Nurse Assistant.
Life after career
After retirement, Thompson has found ways to help her community and stay within the fields she loves. Thompson is a volunteer at Andrews schools making bulletin boards, helping teachers in the classroom and working on special projects with students.
She is a Cub Scout leader for Pack 401 in Andrews, which her grandson, Brayden, 7, is a member. Thompson also volunteers at Andrews United Methodist, making bulletins and helping staff.
Thompson’s greatest act of volunteerism is working with the Red Cross and church since 1973 to assist in annual blood drives. She has been actively donating and helping organize blood drives in the community for more than 40 years and has donated more than 10 gallons of blood.
Thompson is one of many local donors for the Red Cross. She has formed friendships over her time as a donor and host for the local blood drives.
“I’ve met lots of people over the years who have been donating since they were in the armed forces,” Thompson said. “Donors are fierce, they are loyal. Anytime there is a blood drive or they get a call, they are there.”