Bernhard Nägele has already donated blood 156 times.
. Bernhard Nägele (69) from Wellendingen has already donated blood 156 times in his life. With a standardized purchase of half a liter each, the withdrawal adds up to a total of 78 liters. Since the specific weight of blood is more than one kilogram per liter, Bernhard Nägele let more than 82 kilograms run through blood donation cannulas throughout his life – more than his body weight.
What drives the 69-year-old that he goes to “bloodletting” so often? A serious illness of his son had induced him to donate blood 33 years ago. At the age of five he had to be operated on in a special clinic in Munich. Countless blood reserves were administered to the boy. Out of gratitude that the operation went well, Bernhard Nägele decided to make his contribution in the future. “It was almost like a silent vow that I made,” he looks back in the BZ conversation.
At first it was difficult to keep the promise because the carpenter traveled a lot for work. Because you should have time to donate blood. You can’t get through there for under an hour – not counting the journey. At the moment it’s much faster. “Everything has been organized differently since the coronavirus crisis. You can get there in half an hour,” says Bernhard Nägele. Sometimes he travels a long way to be able to donate blood – even beyond Bonndorf. A man is allowed to donate blood six times a year, with a minimum interval of 56 days. Bernhard Nägele orients himself to this.
Bernhard Nägele intends to continue donating blood, if possible up to the maximum donor age of 72 years. He feels good about it, it seems to be good for him physically. And sometimes, before the time of the coronavirus crisis, when the blood donors sat together at Vespers, there were nice encounters and interesting conversations. It will be like that again someday.
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