Robert Hanson and Red Cross Collections staff member Lee Caldwell.

Robert Hanson has been a regular blood donor in the Wolfeboro area for many years. He usually sails through the entire donation experience with flying colors.

But at a blood drive several years ago, Robert was deferred for low hemoglobin. The same thing happened at another drive in Alton. This time, his hemoglobin level was even lower. Disappointed that he wasn't able to donate, he went to his physician to find out why.

Robert was severely anemic. Even though he'd had a successful physical in the fall, further tests now revealed a very large polyp in the intestine.

He had surgery and 14 1/2 inches of the large intestine had to be removed.

Fortunately, the growth was non-cancerous and he was back giving blood again. The blood drives around Wolfeboro once again had a smiling and grateful Robert Hanson visiting them.

Then, a year ago, lightening struck a second time. Robert suffered an aortic aneurisum, followed by a heart attack and later, an emergency colostomy.

The colostomy was reversed in November 2006 and Robert is hoping to be able to return to donating blood again in the not-too-distant future! Robert is a great advocate of the American Red Cross. His ties with the Red Cross go back to Michigan, where he lived for many years, and also to his times overseas.

"I give blood because you meet nice people, it's a wonderful cause and you have a chance to get checked up. My polyp probably would not have been detected otherwise."

Robert is living proof that giving blood can be good for your own health as well as the health of others.

Robert is also a great example of the dedication many of our wonderful blood donors exhibit, even in times of personal difficulty. Thanks, Robert, for being so committed to the Red Cross blood program.

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