Loyalty and community

Karin first donated plasma in college but stopped when she graduated. It was only after she married and had a family of her own that she remembered how easy the process was and how big an impact it could have. In 2010, Karin began donating regularly at Octapharma Plasma. Today, she ranks among the top active donors with more than 1,400 donations.

While altruism is a big motivator for Karin, it is the people at her donation centre who keep her coming back to Octapharma Plasma, Inc. (OPI).

“Going somewhere else does not fit in my equation at all,” she says. “It’s nice when you feel as if you are a part of something. I feel attached to some of the employees there. I know them well. The management knows me when I come in. They come out of their offices to say hello, and of course the phlebotomists – I honestly think I would miss them. I feel like we are friends.”

For Karin, a former journalist turned higher education administrator, donating was also therapeutic. It was a short escape from her busy days as a career-driven professional, a wife and a mother. “It was me time,” Karin explains. When she began donating again, she had three small children. Her centre visits gave her an opportunity to relax and decompress for an hour.

Donating to create lasting family memories

As a donor and advocate, Karin’s family and friends began to follow her lead. Her oldest children became donors. She sometimes donates during her lunch break and her co-workers ask her for information about the process. She has converted neighbours into donors as well.

Donating plasma has done more for Karin than provide another revenue stream. It gives her discipline and a sense of pride. She says: “When I think about the grand scope of things, how many people I have helped over the last 13 years, I just let my imagination run wild. I like to think that I’ve helped a lot.”

Advocating for a greater good

As a donor and advocate, Karin’s family and friends began to follow her lead. Her oldest children became donors. She sometimes donates during her lunch break and her co-workers ask her for information about the process. She has converted neighbours into donors as well.

Donating plasma has done more for Karin than provide another revenue stream. It gives her discipline and a sense of pride. She says: “When I think about the grand scope of things, how many people I have helped over the last 13 years, I just let my imagination run wild. I like to think that I’ve helped a lot.”