June of 1971, my father Robert Libby was dying and needed open heart surgery. Bypass surgery was new and not performed in our city of Portland Maine. So doctors said there was a new technique called bypass done in Boston hospital. The catch was the family would need to donate 21 pints of blood in advance. We the family came through with the required pints of blood. However dad passed away in recovery. I started giving blood in June of 1971 and continue to this day. Nearly 50 years and I have no idea of how many pints or gallons of blood I have had the privilege of donating.