Each year, the East Laurinburg Church of God sponsors a blood drive at their fellowship hall for the benefit of the community and beyond. This year the event will hold a special meaning for many, when they hold the annual function in honor of one of their own.

Michael Wayne Polston of Maxton, who was raised in East Laurinburg, passed away on March 20, 2009 after a series of health problems associated with diabetes. In December, 2008, he fell ill and was rushed to the emergency room of Scotland Memorial Hospital. Suffering a severe loss of blood, Polston was given transfusions until he was stable enough to be airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

"I don't know how many transfusions he had," Polston's mother Brenda said, "but they told us that they used up the store of blood they had in Laurinburg, and that the highway patrol collected units in storage from the surrounding area. The blood he was given allowed him to be moved to Charlotte for further treatment."

Polston had been given a kidney and pancreas transplant in February, 2004, and a blood vessel involved in the operation had ruptured.

"For six months he had been all right," she said, "but then he had to go on dialysis after that."

Still, Polston carried on with his life. He was married to the former Lory Mayer, and the couple had two daughters, Kyley and Courtney. He played the guitar, loved the outdoors, and had a passion for Harley-Davidsons.

"He had wanted a motorcycle for years, and finally bought one about five years ago," Brenda Polston said. "His favorite thing was Harleys."

Following an operation in the Charlotte hospital, during which time 22 units of blood was administered to Polston, he returned home where he was cared for by his wife and daughters for the remaining three months of his life. On the evening of March 19, his caretakers spotted blood in his urine and urged him to go to the hospital.

"He told them that he would go to the doctor in the morning," his mother said. "I arrived at 7:20 a.m. the next day, but he was almost gone. I know he didn't want to go back to the hospital."

Michael Wayne Polston was 35.

Dr. Stephen Lanuti was the physician who attended Polston at Scotland Memorial Hospital.

"I don't know the exact number of units of blood Mr. Polston received, but he would not have survived if not for the people who donated blood," Lanuti said.

Carol Ann Lentz, executive director of the Scotland County Chapter of the American Red Cross, said this is a good example of why people should give.

"This in itself speaks to the importance of donating blood," Lentz said. "Blood cannot be synthesized; it has to come from donors, and each unit you give has the potential to save three lives."

Lanuti stressed the need to give during the summer months.

"Summer donations of blood are extremely vital," he said, "because it is both the time of greatest need and the period in which we have the greatest shortage. People are traveling more, and are involved in more traffic accidents; at the same time, people are out doing things and may not consider donating. We very much want to raise awareness of the need to give blood during the summer months."

Brenda Polston thanks the public for the gift that allowed her son to live for an additional period of time.

"Thanks to blood donors, my son was with us for another three months, a period that we cherish," she said. "I would like to ask that everyone come out to donate blood today at our church and give such an important gift."

The blood drive will be held from 2 until 6:30 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall of the East Laurinburg Church of God, located at 16620 Andrew Jackson Highway, in Laurinburg. Appointments are not required but are suggested in order to reduce waiting times. Call 268-2426 to make an appointment.

Donors will also be given the opportunity to register for a cruise for two through the "Save a Life and Sail the Seas" regional campaign.