Kenneth Hamblin Reaches 100 Gallons in Lifesaving Blood Donations

Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Marine Kenneth Hamblin of the Inland Empire became the ninth LifeStream blood donor to reach the 100-gallon plateau in lifetime blood donations Tuesday, March 8 at LifeStream blood bank’s San Bernardino Donor Center. Hamblin, 76, shared the moment with wife Barbara; daughter-in-law Jenny Arrington, Yucaipa; and 4-year-old granddaughter, Arianna. Hamblin first donated blood in 1959 while a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He began donating regularly following his discharge from the military when his workplace hosted mobile blood drives, and later transitioned to monthly plasma donations at LifeStream’s former location on Blood Bank Road. The Grand Rapids, Mich. native later began donating platelets the maximum 24 times per year, which is his current routine. He performs other community service close to his heart, too. “Mr. Hamblin donates blood on Tuesdays,” said LifeStream President, CEO and Medical Director Dr. Rick Axelrod during a brief ceremony before staff and fellow donors. “Not Mondays; not Wednesdays. Because on those days, Kenneth volunteers at the Loma Linda VA as a shuttle driver to help patients get to and from the parking lot and the facility.” Special guests on hand to help honor the achievement and make presentations to Mr. Hamblin were John Futch, deputy chief of staff for San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos; and Joshua Monzone, field representative for Sen. Mike Morrell. When he’s not donating blood or giving back to his community at the VA, Mr. Hamblin fulfills the wishes of family and friends via his cabinet-making skills. In line with his attitude about attaining 100 gallons in blood donations, he is modest about the pursuit. “I like it, but I’m not as good as my grandfather was,” he said.