Wellness
blood donor services
The Fagerberg family was recently recognized for their collective 1,000-unit donation to the Blood Donor Center in Greeley.
paying it forward: family recognized
for legacy of donation By Elissa Tivona
Author’s note: I arrived a half-hour early at the Blood Donor Center at North Colorado Medical Center, so I lingered in the hallway scanning the list of top donors displayed on an impressive wall plaque: Linda Fagerberg, 40-49 gallons; John Fagerberg, 15-19 gallons; Mary Fagerberg, 12-14 gallons; Chuck Fagerberg Jr., 11 gallons; Cheryl Fagerberg, 8 gallons; Chuck Fagerberg Sr., 7 gallons; Gretchen Fagerberg, 4 gallons. Who are these people? I was soon to find out, and it is my privilege to bring readers the story of this remarkable family. 74
“To be a Fagerberg is to be a blood donor,” says Andrea Hawkins, Outreach Coordinator for the Blood Donor Center, as she introduces Linda Fagerberg and her eldest son, John. The Fagerbergs may consider themselves an ordinary Greeley family, but to the North Colorado Medical Center, they’re heroes. For three generations, despite tragedies and triumphs, they have passed on the legacy of donating blood … pint-by-pint … and eventually gallon-by-gallon. Cyndi Mitchell, account executive at Fenwal, Inc., global supplier of blood collection products, was on hand at Greeley’s Blood Donor Center on Nov. 9 to induct the family into the Blood Donation Hall of Fame. This year, from 82 nominees, Fenwal selected 12 winners based on stories submitted by blood centers internationally. Andrea Hawkins offered the Fagerberg story. The tradition began with Chuck Fagerberg Sr.’s WWII tour-of-duty in Italy. Details of the anecdote have faded, but most family members recall Chuck
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