WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsSaving a life one donation at a time

MADISON (WKOW)-- WKOW partnered with the American Red Cross and Tweedee Productions to honor people who have gone above and beyond -- giving of themselves to better our communities.

We feature a man who has given blood hundreds of times.

Carrol Daubenspeck is "Someone You Should Know."

Carrol Daubenspeck is a familiar site around the Badger-Hawkeye Region Aphorizes Donor Room.

When Carrol walks in, not only does the staff know he's here, they know another patient may be saved.

"I normally give 24 times a year, platelets, and now I give one whole blood also," said Carrol.

With the way he's been donating since the 1960's, he's saved a lot of patients.

"I think I've given 606 times," said Carrol.

That amounts to more than 75 gallons and Carrol says about 2-thirds of those gallons are platelets - the body's defense against excessive bleeding. feel there's a great need for it. There's so many people who need the products that they put out here.

Many of those products reach cancer patients whose platelets are destroyed by chemotherapy. The platelets help their defenses against bleeding. Carrol knows healthy people like him are the first line in that defense and have plenty of platelets to spare.

"Your cells die off, they don't do you any good. They die off. So, as long as you're healthy why not give 'em," said Carrol.

That's a message Carrol likes to spread around here, and at work.

"I think everybody should come in and give and that way you help all your neighbors out and you give 'em something they can't get anywhere else," said Carrol.

So, how long will Carrol be giving.

"As long as I'm healthy, 20-30 years maybe? As long as I'm healthy and I can do it, I'll keep going," said Carrol.

The staff here has no doubt he will, they hope others will hear this Hero from the Heart's message and follow his unselfish lead.