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24.7 GALLONS OF BLOOD | Amid national blood shortage, West MI man has made a lifetime impact

After spending a lifetime giving blood every 8 weeks, Rodney Hovey needed blood himself after a recent hospital stay, learning the importance of his donations.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The nation is in the midst of an emergency blood shortage. The American Red Cross says the country is at its lowest supply levels in 20 years. It could force some medical procedures to be delayed. 

The American Red Cross is calling on anyone who can donate to do so. 

Rodney Hovey of Kalamazoo says, "there's really no excuse for not giving blood." 

Hovey began donating blood as a senior in high school. Now, he has donated 24.7 gallons of blood in his lifetime. 

"I just kept rolling with it," said Hovey. "Once I gave, I'd look eight weeks ahead to see where the next blood drive will be, and wherever it was, I went."

Last year, Hovey became sick and spent time in a local hospital. He needed a blood transfusion himself. 

"I feel in my heart if he had not gotten that transfusion, he would not have come out of the hospital," said Tina Keeler, Hovey's daughter. "He’s donated for so many years and it’s nice for it to come back around full circle and it saved his life this time."

Hovey said the juxtaposition "was the furthest thing on my mind." He said that was never his motivation.

"I didn’t start out giving blood thinking I would someday need blood, there’s no connection there," said Hovey. "I gave blood because I wanted to."

Click here to find a blood drive near you.

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