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Lavergne McMurray

Lavergne McMurray

In August 1999, Lavergne McMurray of Frankfort, NY was enjoying his retirement from Frankfort-Schuyler Central School, where he had taught music. He was an active board member of the Mohawk Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, a member of the Kiwanis Club and a church organist. A routine visit to his physician brought alarming news, changing his life. Lavergne's doctors found that he might be at an increased risk for prostate cancer. More tests followed in November 1999, that confirmed Lavergne had prostate cancer. Lavergne decided to undergo surgery that would remove his entire prostate gland.

Prior to his surgery, Lavergne's doctors at St. Luke's Hospital in Utica, NY, recommended that he donate his own blood for potential use during surgery, a procedure known as autologous blood donation. Autologous blood donation is only suitable for patients who are relatively healthy and who are anticipating a scheduled surgery for which their physicians say a blood transfusion is likely. His physicians were unsure exactly how many units Lavergne might need during surgery, and recommended that three units of blood be collected. However, into the surgery, Lavergne needed an additional four units of red blood cells to help stabilize him.

His surgery on February 8, 2000, was successful and today Lavergne thanks blood donors for their generous gift of life. "To me, receiving those extra four units of blood from volunteer blood donors means that there are four names I will never know and four faces I will never see," says Lavergne, "To these people I owe my life."

Lavergne is once again enjoying his retirement with his friends and family. He's even increased his activities to include being president of the Library Board. Lavergne continues to encourage people to give blood, saying "Blood donation is life-giving and it doesn't cost you anything. But you can truly enrich someone else's life. I know that mine was and I wish the same for everyone else."