Connie Nicolas

For Connie Nicolas, donating platelets isn’t just an occasional contribution -- it’s a commitment.

“I’ve been donating blood and platelets for over thirty years now,” she said. “I always try to make time to donate at Hoxworth.”

Platelet donation is an important responsibility for Connie, a lifelong Cincinnatian who has been donating for well over half of her life. She first donated blood at Hoxworth when she was 17-years-old, and donated platelets for the first time when she was about 20.

“Apheresis was in its infancy when I started donating,” she said. “They used to have family members call and ask people to donate for their loved ones, and I remember being called by a woman whose son had thrombocytopenia (a decrease of platelets in the blood). I went in to donate, and I have been donating pretty regularly ever since.”

While a lot has changed in the past few decades -- Hoxworth recruiters, for instance, will call donors instead of family members -- Connie's dedication to platelet donation has not wavered.

“I think donating blood or platelets is a simple way to be a good person,” said Connie, who donates at the Blue Ash neighborhood center. “You can literally save a life with just an hour or two of your time. It is a very community-minded act, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”