Woman gives blood 289 times: 36 gallons

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (AP) -- A Racine County woman has given blood nearly 300 times, donating more than 36 gallons in her lifetime.

Dorothy Reesman made her 289th donation this week at the BloodCenter of Wisconsin in Mount Pleasant. The 83-year-old makes a donation every eight to 10 weeks.

A Journal Times of Racine report says Reesman lives on a farm in Dover. She says she began donating when a late aunt was diagnosed with leukemia. She also says she used to think about being a nurse when she was younger.

Staff members at the BloodCenter know her well, calling her "very giving" and "silly and goofy."

BloodCenter spokeswoman Fay Spano says the center is always in need of Reesman's type O blood.

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Information from: The Journal Times

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