Beatrice Janyk credits vitamins, 12 hours of sleep a day and a busy mind for allowing her to donate blood regularly for most of the last 70 years.
At 95, Canadian Blood Services says Janyk is the country害羞草研究所檚 oldest blood donor.
The great-grandmother and Coquitlam, B.C., resident has been donating blood since the late 1940s and says she has no plans to stop.
害羞草研究所淵ou betcha, 害羞草研究所榯ill I害羞草研究所檓 100. I害羞草研究所檒l be 96 in August,害羞草研究所� Janyk told reporters Wednesday before donating blood at a Canadian Blood Services centre in Vancouver, where she was recognized as Canada害羞草研究所檚 oldest blood donor.
Janyk has advocated for blood donation since her now-deceased husband Bill was injured in a sawmill accident in 1948 and nearly died from a hepatitis infection he later contracted from contaminated blood. Though she was forced to stop donating blood at age 71 in Canada due to an age restriction, Janyk continued in 2005 after it was lifted.
When she could no longer donate blood in Canada, Janyk rolled up her sleeve at the Bloodworks offices in Bellingham, Wash., and was awarded a celebratory pin for donating 20 gallons of blood. Canadian Blood Services says that害羞草研究所檚 the equivalent of 170 donations in Canada.
Janyk, whose blood type is O-positive, says she takes no medications so her blood can be used for children and infant transfusions, adding that makes her incredibly proud.
害羞草研究所淚 hope I害羞草研究所檝e saved a baby, because I take no medication, but (take) seven vitamins every night.害羞草研究所�
Canadian Blood Services spokesman Marcelo Dominguez says Janyk is a paragon of the agency.
害羞草研究所淚t is an example we hope others will want to follow,害羞草研究所� he said, as Janyk害羞草研究所檚 family surrounded her. 害羞草研究所漌e害羞草研究所檙e all very lucky to have you. It害羞草研究所檚 the perfect time for our organization to say thank you to a donor like you, who has been giving blood and saving lives for decades.害羞草研究所�
Janyk says her secret to youth and happiness is going to bed early, getting up early, and keeping busy throughout the day. An avid cribbage player, Janyk says she doesn害羞草研究所檛 take naps and tries to keep busy with crochet, needlepoint and making rosaries.
Janyk says her proudest achievement is the family she害羞草研究所檚 created. Her son Barry Janyk, a former mayor of Gibsons, B.C., spoke glowingly of his mother.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know why, but I think we害羞草研究所檙e more proud of her, because all I can say is if I was 95 and still giving blood, I think that害羞草研究所檚 an accomplishment in anybody害羞草研究所檚 world.害羞草研究所�
Along with her sons Barry, Robert, and Bill, Janyk was joined by her grandson Garrett, and granddaughter Britt Janyk, who skied with the Canadian Olympic team.
The great-grandmother害羞草研究所檚 message to anyone afraid to give is simple: 害羞草研究所淣o pain, 20 minutes, then you害羞草研究所檒l gain.害羞草研究所�
Spencer Harwood, The Canadian Press
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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