Clem Walleser
In November of 2002, Clem Walleser was more than 1,000 miles from home on his way to a hunting lodge with family and friends. A week-long vacation awaited them.
They were in Montana only 20 miles from their cabin, when Clem's uncle, who was driving, suffered a heart attack and died. The SUV drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with a car at 70 mph. It then rolled two times totaling the vehicle and leaving Clem with severe head injuries. A nurse and an anesthesiologist who were passing by stopped to offer assistance. They got Clem breathing again and kept him stable until Emergency workers could arrive.
Clem's wife, Judy, and their 17-year-old daughter flew to Montana to be at Clem's side as he went through two surgeries and began his recovery. Two weeks after the accident he regained consciousness and began walking with the assistance of a walker. Doctors thought Clem would need a year of therapy, but he had an amazing recovery and was home in Iowa on December 31.
Clem received blood as treatment for his injuries. He does not take this lightly as he knows where the blood comes from. Judy works for the American Red Cross Blood Services.
"The blood kept me alive. I believe it," said Clem. "I can't give the Red Cross enough praise for making sure blood is available across the country."
Clem now enjoys good health and his family and friends are grateful to the blood donors who helped save his life.
"I would like to say thank you to blood donors, encourage them to continue to do so and encourage others to donate blood," Clem said. "It was very much a part of me staying alive and my recovery."