By Steve Seepersaud
At a time when blood donations are at a historic low, Christopher Ullman '86 stands out for giving blood at all and, even more so, because of the volume of his lifetime efforts.
Since his first blood drive in 1981 as a senior at Berner High School in Massapequa, N.Y., Ullman has donated more than 10 gallons of blood. That means he's laid down on the cot and rolled up his sleeve more than 80 times. Perhaps a more impactful measure of his giving would be the more than 240 lives he has helped save over the years.
"Giving blood was a little scary at first, but even at 17 years old I was a bit of a communitarian, so I embraced the civic duty of donating," Ullman said. "You can’t make blood. It has to come from fellow humans! Giving blood gives me an emotional high. How many things can everyday people do that can save people’s lives? Every pint donated can help three people."
Ullman said people are usually shocked to hear that he has donated 10 gallons of blood. The American Red Cross gave him a lapel pin to commemorate each gallon milestone, and he has kept them all.
"I have 10 and am very proud of them," Ullman said. "They are just small pieces of plastic but they represent life — the most precious gift we have and the most meaningful gift we can give."
According to Blood Drives United, only 37% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, and less than 10% do annually. Dangerously low blood supplies have forced hospitals to defer patients from major surgery including organ transplants. Ullman says it's critically important for people — especially first-timers — to step up.
"Please donate! It’s easy, pretty much pain-free and affords tons of psychic benefits, and you will actually save people’s lives. How cool is that? It’s also a civic duty. If you are in a car crash and need blood, you will benefit from the generosity of a stranger. Pay it forward!"
