WANG SHULING, who works in a bank, has donated 37.8 liters of blood since 1997.

    May 17, 1997 was Wang and her husband’s 10th wedding anniversary. The couple wanted to celebrate the special occasion but had no idea what to do. At last, Wang suggested donating blood and since then, the couple have gone to donate blood at every wedding anniversary.

    Wang donates blood at least twice a year. “I live near Shili Hospital and always see people with blood all over their bodies, particularly children and pregnant women. Doctors told me they needed a lot of blood every day for emergency patients, so I had the idea of donating blood,” said Wang. Since then, Wang has gone on to donate blood regularly and encouraged her husband and daughter to donate. Over the past 15 years, she and her husband have both donated more than 30 liters of blood and their 23-year-old daughter has donated about 6 liters.

    Wang regularly appears at the city’s blood center. Unlike many other blood donors, Wang donates her blood platelets, which help stop bleeding. “Cases of platelet donations are always urgent because it can only be reserved for five days. Patients who need platelet are always in serious condition, so it is very important to ensure the supply. Sometimes we need platelet donors at midnight and even on Chinese New Year,” said an official from the blood center.

    Wang was once woken up at 1 a.m. in 2007. The center said there was a patient who needed blood type B, but there was not enough in reserve, so she went out immediately. “The taxi driver thought I might have a family problem, but he was shocked when he learned I was heading to donate blood. He was so impressed and refused to accept my money,” said Wang.

    (Wang Yuanyuan, Sui Jun)