Good turnout for special blood drive.

Stella Thompson gives blood for the first time in five years.

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Story Published: Aug 29, 2008 at 7:33 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 12:27 AM PST

By Stephanie Smith

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LEWISTON - Friday a very special blood drive took place

It was in celebration of Stella Thompson being cancer free for five years. Thompson hosted the blood drive through the Inland Northwest Blood Center at her restaurant, The Last Way Point Saloon inside the Lewiston airport. Thompson donated blood for the first time since being diagnosed with breast cancer.

"You sit down in the chair, which is what I am doing right now," said Stella. "The lady asks you a couple of minor questions, wipes your arm with alcohol, takes your blood pressure. It just takes a few minutes and then voila, she stuck me with the needle. She did a good job, I hardly felt it."

Thompson donated blood every two months until she got cancer. The rules governing blood donation prohibit giving until you have been cancer free for five years. So Friday was a big day.

"I would go turn a cartwheel if I could, I swear," said Stella. "I am so happy to be able to do this again. I was so upset that, like I said, for five years they wouldn't take my blood and when you read in the paper and see on the news that there is a blood shortage, I could never help them."

To make up for lost time, Stella set a goal of getting enough people to donate, that would cover the five years that she couldn't. Everyone who donated Friday, or within the next week at INBC, will get a free lunch at Last Way Point.

"I passed out hundreds of fliers and I've got friends on the outside telling their coworkers to come and give blood and it's wonderful," said Stella "It looks like we have a good turn out and we just barely started."

Stella hopes to make it an annual event, with more blood donated each year.

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