Lombard woman celebrates 101st birthday by donating blood

Surrounded by photographers and reporters, 100-year-old Darlene Merchant of Lombard arrived with a flourish of fanfare at the First Church of Lombard for Wednesday's blood drive to celebrate her upcoming birthday by making a donation.

Merchant, who turns 101 today, told Versiti Blood Centers of Illinois that when she heard about the urgent need for blood, she knew immediately she wanted to donate to help mark her special occasion and to do what she could to help out.

When asked how many times she had donated blood, she shrugged, smiled and said she had donated so many times she didn't remember the total number. Merchant said she has been donating blood a few times every year since she was in high school.

The centenarian smiled as she finished donating blood, gave a thumbs-up and said, "Looking good."

According to Versiti, as more people are getting COVID-19 vaccinations and getting out of their homes, attention has shifted away from blood donations. In addition, blood drives at schools and businesses - typically the organization's largest source of donations this time of year - have been canceled. Those are factors in creating a shortage of much-needed blood.

Versiti said donations in the first quarter of 2021 are down more than 40% - nearly 20,000 units of blood - from schools and businesses, compared to a typical year.