Decades of Saving Lives: A Blood Donor's Story Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Blood and Platelet Donor Reflects on Decades of Saving Lives Jun 13, 2018 Cedars-Sinai Staff Share Tweet Post "Donating blood doesn't take a lot of time, and it's a great way to give back" For almost 30 years, Haskell Vaughn Anderson III has been a regular fixture at the Cedars-Sinai Blood Donor Center. He can still remember the first time he donated blood in the late '80s. "I was in a waiting room at Cedars-Sinai when a woman came by looking for blood donors," says Haskell. "I had the time, so I did it; when I was there I saw people donating platelets, and from then on it became my thing." Three decades later, Haskell still makes regular trips to donate. In that time, he's donated whole blood 43 times and platelets 199 times, impacting the lives of countless patients. Many of the treatments provided in a hospital, including organ and bone marrow transplants, cardiac surgery, and cancer treatment, would not be possible without blood and platelet donations. Read: How Does Your Donated Blood Get to a Patient in Need? "I'm honored to be able to do this for people in need," says Haskell, who's been an actor just as long as he's been a donor. His most notable credits include Brotherhood of Death (1976) and Kickboxer (1989). Committed to living a healthy lifestyle, Haskell wakes up every day at 4:30 am. He starts his day by making coffee for his wife of 30 years, Sarita Marie Ursula. After coffee, he heads to mass and then to the Santa Monica Stairs, where he works out 5 times a week. A few years ago, Haskell underwent brain surgery at Cedars-Sinai to remove a stage 1 meningioma. That experience further reinforced his humanitarian drive. "I decided, as a symbol of gratitude, to give back even more," he says. In addition to being a lifesaving blood donor, Haskell volunteers at A Place Called Home, a nonprofit youth center in South LA, where he serves as a mentor. The center recently honored him as Mentor of the Year. This year, he will also be honored at Cedars-Sinai's Blood Donor Services annual donor recognition event. "We are grateful for Haskell's years of service to our community and for all of the lives he has helped to save," says Dr. Ellen Klapper, director of transfusion medicine at Cedars-Sinai. What advice does Haskell have for someone thinking about donating whole blood or platelets? "It doesn't take a lot of time, and it's a great way to give back," he says. "Just do it!" Read: Jantzn May is Saving Lives One Donation at a Time Ellen B Klapper MD Pathology & Laboratory Ellen B Klapper MD Pathology & Laboratory Ready to make a blood or platelet donation Here are some tips on how to prepare Maintain healthy iron levels by eating iron-rich foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, beans, spinach, iron-fortified cereals, and raisins. Get a good night's sleep. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption before your donation. Eat normally and drink extra fluids before and after your donation. If you are donating platelets, remember that you cannot take aspirin for 2 days prior to the donation. Bring your driver's license or another form of photo ID. For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets, call 310-423-5346 or visit Cedars-Sinai Blood Donor Services. Tags Patient Stories Donate Blood Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics In Our Community Faces of Cedars-Sinai Patient Stories Los Angeles Behind the Scenes Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility