36 gallons. 288 units. Hundreds helped. Ed Kisslak is committed to donating blood

More than six decades and 288 units later, Ed Kisslak of Waynesboro still gets emotional when he talks about the day donating blood became his No. 1 priority.

The 88-year-old choked up telling the story on Thursday, April 6, after he received a spate of honors when he reached the 36-gallon milestone during an American Red Cross blood drive at the Waynesboro’s Joe Stickell American Legion Post 15.

Thirty-six gallon jugs were displayed as a visual representation of what he’s given and a poster recapped his record — enough to help 864 patients through platelets, plasma, red blood cells and white blood cells.

How did Ed Kisslak’s dedication to donation begin?

Football, traveling and dancing were Kisslak’s priorities in 1962 when he was stationed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., 10 years into a 33-year military career.

See the photos:Ed Kisslak, Waynesboro, honored as he reaches 36-gallon blood donation milestone

A gallon ago in 2021:He helped save a little girl's life and has been giving blood ever since, reaching a 35-gallon milestone

An officer saw his O-negative blood type and asked if he would donate in an emergency. Kisslak said yes, 15 minutes later was in a vehicle headed to a hospital and 15 to 20 minutes after that had donated his first pint of blood.

That evening, he received a call from a young woman thanking him for giving blood to help save the life of her daughter. O-negative is the universal blood type and can be given to anyone, but people with O-negative blood can only receive that type. The little girl was O-negative.

“Every time I donate, I think of that little girl,” Kisslak said with a catch in his voice and tears in his eyes. “It still gets to me. Donating blood went to the top of my priority list and stayed there.”

He’s also been active as a recruiter encouraging others to give blood. His wife of 56 years, Delores “Dee” Kisslak, who passed away Feb. 16, was a 2-gallon donor. Daughter Carol Kimble of Waynesboro is two units shy of 2 gallons.

How his recognition ranges from Ripley’s Believe or Not to Caspar Weinberger

It was Kimble who brought her father’s giving record to the attention of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Back when the total stood at 31 1/4 gallons, he was spotlighted in the syndicated newspaper feature, published locally in The Record Herald, on April 10, 2015.

Years earlier, he’d been recognized as the leading Air Force blood donor with a certificate signed by Caspar Weinberger, secretary of defense under President Ronald Reagan.

On April 6, Kisslak received a number of additions to his collection of certificates, commendations and Red Cross donor pins.

The American Legion Department of Pennsylvania, represented by Troy Michaels, assistant adjutant, and Lewis Jones, activities director, gave him the Lifetime Blood Donor Award. The department covers 675 posts, the Waynesboro American Legion has received the blood drive award for the past 24 years and expects to earn it again this year, according to Ray Harbaugh, post adjutant.

“We have hardcore veterans. The momentum keeps coming,” Harbaugh said, explaining the blood drive has been a community fixture for years.

Kisslak is a member of the post and Commander Tim Wolff, himself a 16-gallon donor, offered congratulations, along with Bernie McGarity, blood drive coordinator, who helped arrange the recognition ceremony.

Others on hand to honor Kisslak included Waynesboro Mayor Dick Starliper, state Rep. Paul Schemel, R-Franklin, and representatives of state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin/Adams, U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-13, and the Red Cross.

Someone needs blood every two seconds

Carey Nycum, account manager for the Red Cross Greater Alleghenies Region, called Kisslak an “exemplary donor” and said, “This is Ed’s place to come donate.”

She talked about his commitment to giving blood, raising awareness about its importance and recruiting donors.

Someone needs blood every two seconds. Since it can’t be manufactured, “the only way they can receive it is generous people who come in and give,” Nycum said.

A traumatic event like a car crash usually comes to mind when you think about someone needing blood, but it’s also a life-saver for patients with cancer, expectant and delivering mothers and people with blood disorders.

Harbaugh, the post adjutant, was standing with Nycum when she talked about the need, and he understands it first-hand.

His granddaughter, Emma, 13, suffers from hemolytic anemia caused by pyruvate kinase deficiency or PKD. She was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder within one week of her birth and “nearly died except for an attentive pediatrician who immediately ordered a blood transfusion.” She needed a blood transfusion each month until undergoing a splenectomy at age 7, which reduced the frequency to every two to three months. Now that she’s a teen, it’s back to once a month to support her growth spurt.

“Blood transfusions are critical to her continued good health,” Harbaugh said, emphasizing the word “critical.”

What Kisslak has to say about giving blood

“One pint of blood can save three lives, and in many cases, it has,” Kisslak said.

He said he’s “tough as nails,” feels “pretty good for an old fart” and will continue to give blood as long as he is able, but he’s also looking to the future.

“It’d be very nice if we can get younger blood donors,” said Kisslak. He said he’d like to see school superintendents make arrangements so students could go give blood.

“We need younger donors, we really do,” he said.Shawn Hardy is a reporter with Gannett's Franklin County newspapers in south-central Pennsylvania — the Echo Pilot in Greencastle, The Record Herald in Waynesboro and the Public Opinion in Chambersburg. She has more than 35 years of journalism experience. Reach her at shardy@gannet