“The Right Thing To Do”: Mackay Nurse Hits 300th Blood Donation

Kim Baker has donated 33 human beings’ worth of blood in the past three decades across three states -- accounting for roughly a person worth a year.

The Mackay registered nurse completed her 300th donation in mid-January at the Mackay Donor Centre after 30 years of what she said had developed into something of a lifesaving “habit”.

“It started with wanting to help the community; it was something which seemed like the right idea at 18 years old,” Kim said.

“It became a routine, something I would do every fortnight, and next thing you know it’s been 30 years and you’ve donated 300 times – it’s really that simple.”

On the day of her 300th donation, Kim was surprised by her husband, Andrew, and the staff at the centre, who presented her with a few gifts: pink, blood-drop-shaped macaroons, a cake, and a 44-gallon drum her husband had painted in secret which represented the roughly 166 litres of blood Kim had thus far donated.

Starting in Perth in 1992, Kim began donating blood in its whole form before moving on to plasma - the liquid in which blood cells float - which allowed her to donate on a fortnightly basis and rack up such a volume.

Kim said that helping someone in need was all the reward anyone could ever ask for when donating blood, something she had seen firsthand as both a nurse and in May when she lost her son under tragic circumstances.

“When we went to see him in the hospital [before he passed], he had a lot of health products, and so I know that giving blood and plasma gives someone a second chance,” Kim said.

“It lets them have a life, allows them to function normally, have a family, or come home to a family each night.”

Kim said giving blood was one of the best decisions of her life and she wouldn’t be stopping anytime soon.

“I think everyone should give blood if they can,” she said.

“It’s just the right thing to do.”

‍

‍

Kim Baker with Mackay Donor Centre staff on the day of her 300th blood donation

‍