Mary Beth Garrison is well known throughout Kern County because of her longstanding involvement in politics, economic development and community beautification.  She is best known in the Tehachapi area where she is General Manager of the Stallion Springs Community Services District.  To Houchin Community Blood Bank she is known as a dedicated blood donor one unit shy of her 4^th gallon, and the volunteer chairperson of the new Stallion Springs mobile drives which started in 2011.  The June drive collected 20 units and the October drive collected 25, for a 25% increase in a small community.

Christina Scrivner, Houchin’s Community Development Account Manager for the Tehachapi area, reports that Mary Beth has been totally supportive of all the blood drives in the Tehachapi area which more than doubled in 2011 to 1188 units over 555 units in 2010.  Mary Beth is a real advocate for blood donation, although not that long ago she was afraid to give because of the needles. The whole idea “kinda freaked” her out, until she had a friend in need with Stage 4 cancer at the City ofHope.  “I thought to myself that if she can go through all the pain and suffering that she’s experiencing, the least I can do is conquer my fear and give blood. It was so easy that I’ve been donating ever since at Houchin.”

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In just an instant, everything changed for 21 year old Antone Chicca. He was involved in a roll over accident on a rain soaked freeway leaving a 49ers game in the Bay Area in 2001. He was in a coma for two weeks with head injuries. Doctors gave him only a 33% chance of survival, and he lost 90 pounds. Transfusions helped in his recovery as did faith, family and friends. Antone had been studying agricultural management at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, planning to become a 5th generation farmer, and had recently returned from a wonderful semester studying in Italy.

Years of therapy and very hard work followed, including time at Bakersfield’s own Centre for Neuro Skills. Antone’s speech was most affected by the accident, but he persevered to pass the speech class required to graduate from college. He says his mind is still “kind of like a filing cabinet with the files out of order”, but even with these challenges, Antone wants to give blood because he is so happy to be alive, and wants to share that gift with others.

Antone started giving blood as a Bakersfield High School student, and has to manage his medication schedule to continue to give, but he feels that sharing his blood shares the beauty of life. He would someday like a license plate that says “Via Bella”. It can be surrounded by a Houchin Community Blood Bank frame.

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Lisa Brown Youngest Female in Houchin Community Blood Bank 10 Gallon Club

On October 27, 2011, Lisa Brown became the youngest female donor ever to enter the Houchin Community Blood Bank 10 Gallon Club.  She missed the overall youngest mark by only a few months!  Her achievement was picked up by both KERO and KGET TV and so she was able to tell thousands of viewers why she gives blood and urge them to do so too. She says “It’s an easy way to help people and takes less than an hour of your time.  It’s a really worthwhile thing to do.”

Long before she was old enough to donate herself, Lisa began coming to the blood bank with her father, Danny, who has donated more than 20 gallons. She credits him with getting her started as a teenager, and she’s been at it ever since.  Lisa is a 5^th grade teacher at Harris Elementary  School and does what she can to let her students know how important it is for people to donate blood.

Lisa is raising a future blood donor, four year old Bailey. Bailey will be able to visit the blood bank soon to see the 10 Gallon Club photographs of her mother and grandfather hanging side by side.

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Randy Miller, October Donor of the Month

You would expect the Mayor of Taft, California to be a tremendous booster for his community, but Randy Miller also likes to promote the importance of blood donation.  Randy has more than 7 gallons to his credit, and likes to give “double reds” on the Trima machine at the blood bank in Bakersfield.  He finds the less frequent appointments netting the same units to help others fits his busy schedule.

Randy likes to tell people: “Someway, somehow, somewhere, people you know will need blood.  It just takes a little of your time to see that it is available when needed”. The meaning of this hit home with him personally when his mother recently needed blood to save her life.

Randy retired as a Social Services Supervisor with the Kern County Department of Human Services after 15 years then worked as the Executive Director of the Taft Chamber of Commerce until December 2009. He has served as Mayor of Taft since 2010.  He and his wife of 37 years, Ginny, have two children, Andrew 23, and Melissa 26.  They enjoy RV camping, and Randy recently completed a 500 mile loop of the Central Coast on his Gold Wing motorcycle with a buddy.

The Mayor is justifiably proud that Taft does its part to contribute to Kern County’s blood supply.  Taft Community drives provided 290 units in 2010. We appreciate Randy’s commitment to the Trima program and his ongoing efforts to convince others to save lives through blood donation.

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Gary Berthiaume made his blood donation appointment early to honor the 10^th anniversary of September 11th.  He is approaching his 7 gallon mark, giving regularly since he began on September 11, 2001 in response to the national tragedy unfolding.  He recalls his long, long wait that day only to be deferred.  Disappointed but undeterred, he got a doctor’s release and came back the next day.  He realizes “it shouldn’t require a national emergency to become a donor” since the need for blood is ongoing.

September's Donor of the Month Gary Bethiaume climbs Mount Whitney for the seventh time in July 2011

As a universal O-, CMV negative donor, Gary is proud to be able to help anyone in need of blood, including newborn babies. Gary lives in Glennville and is retired after thirty two years teaching history, mostly at the high school level, where he ensured the events of September 11, 2011 were covered in class.  He and his wife have four grown sons, two first responders and two in the ministry. Gary loves hiking, fishing and camping, and has climbed Mount Whitney not just once, but seven times!  Here he is pictured at the summit in July 2011 during his most recent climb.

The complete story of Gary’s September 11, 2001 donation and what it has meant to him is provided below.

Click To View Gary’s Story

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Alene Ellison still gets emotional when she recalls her family being evacuated from their homes on an American Indian Reservation near San Diego, not once but twice, because of wild fires. Leaving home in a panic with few possessions, not knowing what the next twenty-four hours would hold, her family found help from strangers at an American Red Cross shelter. Alene knows first hand how important it is for strangers to give to strangers, and that is why she is a dedicated donor, working on her 5th gallon.

Alene moved from “The Res” in third grade and went to Shafter High School. She has worked for the Kern County Department of Human Services for 20 years. She and her husband, Daren, have two canine “girls”, Powder and Pepper. She loves catch and release fishing anywhere. Even though Alene is squeamish about hooks, she is not about needles and urges everyone to try blood donation. “Just do it, just take care of it,” she urges. “If we all come together as a community to donate we will thrive.”

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Mark Flores has been a steady student donor at HouchinCommunity Blood Bank, and just received his one gallon license plate. Mark is presently pursuing a degree in culinary arts from Bakersfield College, but likes the treats in our canteen nonetheless. Mark began donating during his years at Centennial High School, and has made it a point to donate during the summer months because he knows the need is great this time of year. Having spent time in the hospital with elbow surgery, he just hates the thought of any patient being without needed blood. Mark says it feels great to help others and do something good.

Mark enjoys playing video games when he is not cooking or studying. He urges other students to give the ift of life so shortages do not occur.

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Pat Lynch has never needed blood herself, but has given more than 11 gallons because she Pat Lynch feels it is her patriotic duty. Pat comes from a long line of military service people, including her great-grandparents, grandpa, dad and brother. Her son is in the Navy currently. These, plus other family members and friends, remind Pat that patriotism and love of our flag “run deep in her veins.” While she has not herself spent time in the military, Pat believes donating blood is a form of patriotism. She says she will “support our troops with every “pint” of blood that she can.

Pat believes people should donate blood to save lives, but that doing so is one of the choices we have as Americans. She urges everyone to try it at least once because of the impact it may have on the donor and because a loved one will need blood at some point. She reports giving blood to others is a humbling experience. Pat works at Aera Energy and has two children, Allison, a college student and Kevin, who serves in the Navy.

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Blood donor Don Simpson likes a challenge. A retired civil engineer, Don designed the Mammoth Ski Resort.  An avid skier, golfer, tennis player and occasional hang glider, Don has piloted planes to his adventures and skied out of helicopters on mountains around the world.  At a Downtown Rotary luncheon in August 1996, Don sat next to Greg Gallion, now Houchin Community Blood Bank CEO, who challenged Don to show up that very afternoon to give blood for the first time. Don took him up on it and has been at it ever since.  Don’s mother needed blood after he began donating, and he was very glad to be able to help her. At almost the 14 gallon mark, Don says he enjoys giving because the people at Houchin are so nice. He thinks people should give blood “Because it doesn’t cost them anything, and helps others who need it.”

Don credits his wife Maxine, a nurse, with keeping him patched up from his occasional misadventures.  They have been married 57 years, and have twin sons, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

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