St. Ann parishioner gives his 100th unit

Intermountain Catholic

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It wasn't the big needle that made Lee Budell nervous March 27 when he donated his 100th pint of blood to the American Red Cross Blood Services, it was the camera. Budell, who donates blood every 56 days, became one of the Red Cross' ?quiet heroes,? in the gym at Kearns-St. Ann School. IC photo by Barbara Stinson Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — Vincent "Lee" Budell, 74, is a relaxed, easy going kind of fellow, so when the American Red Cross’ Judith Christensen, director of communications and marketing, Western Frontier Division, told him she wanted to tell the press he was about to donate his 100th unit of blood, he obliged. By the time the cameras arrived at Kearns-St. Ann Elementary School’s gym March 27, Budell was having second thoughts.

"I’m not really comfortable with all of this," he said, as he prepared himself for interviews and photographs.

Budell first donated blood when he was 19. He was living with his parents on their Manti farm, and his father had to sign his blood donation form. Today, Budell, whose body actually produces more blood than he needs, donates regularly every 56 days.

"In 1980, I got more into it," he said. "They put me on a list and they called me whenever they needed blood, like when someone was having open heart surgery."

Budell and his wife, Mary Terry, have set good examples, making donating blood a family affair. Mary Terry is also a regular donor, as is their oldest daughter Becky Robb, who donates plasma, younger daughter, Becky, and son Andy. Son Brian was slated to donate for the first time the day his dad donated his 100th.

"I’m not one for setting appointments," Budell said. "I just like to come in on my own time and donate."

Budell remembers when a grandson, Austin, born prematurely in 1995, needed a blood transfusion. "It could happen to any one of us," he said.

Christensen said the American Red Cross calls people like Budell their "quiet heroes." "They come in regularly to donate just because they know people need blood, and they ask nothing in return."

Christensen said the Red Cross Blood Services needs 440 blood donations every day to meet the needs of the 40 hospitals for which they are responsible. "We are the biggest blood supplier in Utah. Someone in Utah needs blood about every eight minutes around the clock."

The Western Frontier Division collects blood donations at four donor centers and through eight mobile units daily.

"We have people like Lee who give for all the right reasons, to save people’s lives," she said.

The Budells have lived in Utah twice, once between 1966 and 1970. They came back to stay in 1975, when Utah Title, for whom Lee worked, opened an office in Provo. After 32 years with the company, Lee retired, opening his own cabinet shop in 1994. He retired from that shop in 1999, and now is a carpenter by hobby. But when the Red Cross needed new cabinets, Budell was there, saw and straight-edge in hand.

As Budell prepared to give his 100th unit of blood, Christensen prepared to present him with a certificate to mark the day and his donation. She said she was also grateful for the people like Lois Feuhring, also of St. Ann Parish, who organize blood drives and line up donors in advance.

"People like Lois put it all together," she said. "They make it convenient for people by setting up blood drives close to home."

"Don’t think of it as 100 units given," Christensen said to Budell as his 100th unit began filling the plastic bag. "Think of it as beginning your second 100 units."

Two-hundred units was a bit more than Budell wanted to think about.

"If you want 200 units, you’ll have to dig me up. I’ll save some for you," he said with a laugh.

For further information about donating blood through the American Red Cross, call 1-800-GIVELIFE, (800-448-3543) or contact Christensen at christensj@usa.redcross.org.