Monroe Rotary Club blood drive nearly doubles what David Wolfe needed

David Wolfe, of Monroe, was taken in for surgery at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., last spring for the removal of four tumors, a symptom of his gastrointestinal cancer (GIST). But before the procedure, Dr. Andrew Blakely went in laparoscopically to see exactly what he was dealing with.

“He found 500 tiny tumors and that was unexpected,” Wolfe recalled, “because of that, it ended up being an 11-hour-surgery.”

Due to the tremendous loss of blood, Wolfe needed 21 units and other blood products to replenish his body, but the surgery was a success.

Last Friday, the Rotary Club of Monroe and the American Red Cross held a blood drive in Wolfe’s honor inside the Masuk High School cafeteria to give back to the nation’s blood supply. The schedule was booked solid and by the end of the day 40 pints of blood were collected, nearly double what Wolfe had needed.

Wolfe attended the blood drive with his wife, Rachel, and his daughter, Carly, on hand to show their support.

“I’m feeling good,” Wolfe said. “Although the club is doing this in my honor, this is not for me. Others donated blood to me. How fortunate I was that we had a good blood supply when I needed it. They’re paying it forward for other people, so I’m really thankful all these people came out to do something that’s good for our community.”

Wolfe, who is a member of the Rotary Club, has led various projects, including bringing Reality Check, a personal finances program, to Masuk High School seniors, and establishing the rock garden by the playground entrance at Wolfe Park.

Monroe Rotary Club President Ken Kellogg volunteered at a table by the cafeteria entrance, checking people in for the blood drive.

“We are more than happy to partner with the Red Cross for this cause,” he said. “We’re honored to do this for Dave with all he’s been through — and it’s just been a wonderful show of support for Dave and this community. We don’t always remember how much blood is needed for one patient.”

Of Wolfe, Kellogg said, “it’s honoring someone, who has given tremendously to the Monroe Community.”

Beth Stoller, who is active with the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Power Network in town, was among the blood donors supporting the cause.

“He’s given so much to the Monroe community and it’s a wonderful way of giving back,” Stoller said.

Friday’s blood drive was Stoller’s 39th. “This is something little that you can do, that doesn’t take much,” she said. “It’s a minor thing you can do to give someone life.”

Mike Callison, of Monroe, has participated for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in town and had been a regular blood donor prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I saw one online and thought I’d do it again,” he said of last Friday’s blood drive at Masuk. “I’m O-positive. They like that, because it can be consumed by more people.”

The Wizard of GIST

Wolfe, who was diagnosed with GIST in 2020, is enrolled in a clinical surgical trail and has enjoyed his interactions with his surgeon, Dr. Andrew Blakely.

“I call Dr. Blakely ‘The Wizard of GIST’,” Wolfe said. “I ordered him a Wizard’s hat. It had arrived while I was in surgery. When I woke up in recovery, Dr. Blakely visited me and donned his new hat!”

Since his diagnosis, Wolfe has been involved with The Life Raft Group, a nonprofit that advocates for GIST patients with support groups, information, fundraising and research.

“Life Raft had an event. I couldn’t go, but my surgeon was one of the speakers and I heard he mentioned me, though not by name,” Wolfe said.

Blakely talked about the complex surgery and how surgeons should go in laparoscopically first to see what they’re dealing with before operating on GIST patients, who are susceptible to tumors.

Carly remembers hearing the news of her father’s unexpected tumors and more complex surgery. “That was one of the scariest moments in my life,” she said.

“I think that it’s amazing we have so many people in the community to donate blood in his honor,” Carly said, “and I didn’t realize how important blood donations are needed, until my father was in need of the amount of blood necessary to get through that surgery.”

Carly is unable to donate blood herself, so instead she will donate five dollars for every pint of blood collected at the Masuk blood drive to the National Institute of Health.

“It will mostly go to the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge for families to stay during surgeries,” she said. “They provide breakfast for the families. It’s the respite they need.”

Wolfe said he and his family ended up staying in Maryland for four weeks, a long time away from their friends.

“They were wonderful there and the families became a support network,” Carly said of the lodge.

Wolfe recalled getting an email from a fellow Rotary Club member when he was recovering in the hospital, telling him the civic organization was going to do a blood drive in his honor.

“I was humbled by that,” he said. “The club was so supportive while I was away, they were all behind me, hoping I could come back to meetings. Dennis Condon visited me two weeks after the surgery. It was a surprise.”

All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.