Lake Superior College (LSC) medical laboratory technician students Dana Albrecht, Leanne Becker, Julianne Banks, Alison Willie, Ty Tharge and LSC MLT/Phlebotomy instructor Mary Grace Werner drew blood on Tuesday from the 300 members of the 148th Air National Guard who recently served a two-month tour of duty in Iraq.
SMDC phlebotomists Kay Peterson, Sara Royseth, and Jen Barber, all LSC graduates, participated as well, drawing Air National Guard men and women, and helping with the more difficult draws.
Blood samples are required of all returning military personnel. "We were thrilled to be able to help," said Werner. "Everyone was extremely grateful for our services, and we had the opportunity to give something back to these brave men and women. It was a great experience for our students."
"We had a few tough draws but we all worked together with the phlebotomists from SMDC and Lt. Col. Terry Becker, a nurse- anesthetist with Miller-Dwan," said LSC student Leanne Becker. "We were a little worried about dehydration due to the long plane ride back to Duluth. Dehydration makes veins harder to find, but we managed. Everyone was so nice and happy to be home. We never had so many thank yous."
"It was an amazing experience watching the volunteers from SMDC and LSC efficiently whittle an anticipated four-hour project into one and a half hours," said Sergeant Tedd Williams, 148th Air National Guard Public Health Office. "Our 300 returning men and women received friendly and enthusiastic professional care. Our limited medical staff could not have undertaken this project on our own. We are indebted to those who volunteered to meet this need."
