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Margaret Delfino may be a 90-year-old great-grandmother, but that doesn't stop her from hauling out the big guns when it comes to blood donations.
Even as the Bakersfield woman gave up her 200th pint of blood Thursday at Houchin Blood Bank, she brought along -- some might say dragged along -- several family members who know when they've been made an offer they can't refuse.
"If you don't donate regularly, she calls you," laughed Marie Batey, Delfino's niece.
She has a way of getting people to do what she wants, nephew Randy Jelmini suggested with a grin.
So there they were: Batey, Jelmini and other family members flanking Delfino on a row of recliners as the life-giving fluid flowed from their arms through tubes -- to become simple yet powerful gifts to their community.
Thursday's donation brought Delfino's total to 25 gallons, about 20 times the amount of blood in the average human body.
Why does she do it?
"It can mean the difference between life and death for some people," Delfino said. "But we need more donors."
Houchin Chief Executive Greg Gallion said Delfino was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. As a result of that illness, she had to put a halt to her donations for five years.
Gallion said Delfino was more put out about stopping her donations than she was about the cancer. And she started giving again as soon as she could.
"It's a testament to her commitment to this community," he said. "It's a testament to a remarkable woman."
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