The Peru Gazette

Russell Gadway

Bill Stickney

Hope Costin watches over Bill’s apheresis donation

Plattsburgh – April 1, 2022 – Dependable and giving are words that the Adirondack regional Blood Donor Center staff would describe Bill Stickney and Russell Gadway. As they have done for over 20 years, the two men arrived at the donor center on the 1st Friday at 8 a.m. to make an apheresis donation. However, today is unique; it marks both men’s 200th donation. 

Apheresis separates the blood into its components – platelets, red blood cells, and plasma. Why is that important? A cancer patient can require two units of platelets a week. A car accident victim could use up to 50 red blood cell units, two platelets units, and ten units of platelets. 

The donation process takes about an hour, it’s virtually painless, and neither Bill nor Russell report any side effects. They say the friendly, humorous Donor Center staff makes the one-hour enjoyable. Nancy Roberts and Hope Costin have many years of experience, making the process very easy. 

Both Bill Stickney and Russell Gadway began donating while working at Harris Graphics in Champlain. Like many community-minded employers, Harris invited the Blood Donor Center staff into the plant and gave employees the time off to make donations. Bill and Russell continued to donate after the plant closed. 

The generosity and commitment of all the local donators have saved hundreds of lives. The Donor Center collects at the center and at blood drives throughout the region – provides more than 95% of the blood used at CVPH and is used to supply other hospitals in Elizabethtown, Malone, Massena, Saranac Lake and Glens Falls.