Hawthorn Woods woman would give her arm to help -- and has 100 times

The staff at the LifeSource blood donation center in Lake Zurich set out balloons and cake to honor one of their champion donors.

Wednesday, Darlene Hendricksen gave her blood platelets for the 100th time. But in the tradition of humble heroes, Hendricksen downplayed the feat.

"Let's get one thing straight," she said. "This isn't about me. It's about LifeSource and the great things they do."

She said there was no need to make a fuss. It's really not "that a big deal" from her perspective.

But LifeSource officials say it is a big deal.

"Darlene is only one of 10 people in the 21-year history of LifeSource to donate platelets 100 times," said spokeswoman Tammy Basile. "This is a rare occasion. She is amazing."

After her husband, Robert, died of cancer in 1991, Hendricksen, 64, of Hawthorn Woods, decided to donate platelets as often as possible.

"There was really nothing I could do for him at that time," she said. "But I felt like if there was any way I could help other people battling cancer, that's what I wanted to do." She made her first donation in 1992.

A component of blood, platelets function to stop bleeding. People with cancer, leukemia or other blood disorders have weakened or destroyed platelets, Basile explained. Many of these patients need an infusion of healthy platelets to prevent uncontrolled bleeding.

Basile admires Hendricksen for giving the platelets, but also for the sacrifice of her time.

"What makes this more extraordinary is that donating platelets is a much longer process," Basile said. "It can take up to two hours, much longer than donating whole blood. Darlene is an inspiration not only to us, but for the entire community."