Volunteer Appreciation Month: Jeff Backus

Jeff Backus is a passionate Tennessee Volunteers sports fan who has been married to his wife for 9 years. He loves gardening and singing in his church choir at St. Agnes. Jeff is a volunteer for the American Red Cross Kentucky Region as a Blood Donor Ambassador. He began his volunteering in the spring of 2020.

Originally from east Tennessee, Jeff has been in Louisville for 12 years. Unfortunately, Jeff knows firsthand about the need for blood because he is a two-time cardiac arrest survivor. “I was walking near Cherokee Park on both cardiac arrests. Both times, bystanders came and gave me CPR,” explained Jeff. “I am someone who needed blood. I had to have a double bypass surgery after the first cardiac arrest… I received about 4 units of blood.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff was looking for volunteer work. However, there weren’t many organizations needing volunteers due to the shutdowns. Thankfully, Jeff reached out to the American Red Cross Kentucky Region about volunteer opportunities. He now attends 3-4 blood drives per week and runs the registration table. “The best thing is meeting people. Getting to know the [Red Cross] staff. I have a great relationship with just about all of them,” said Jeff.

Before his cardiac arrests, Jeff was a regular blood donor. He remembers giving his first donation in 1978. After moving to Louisville, he gave platelets on a regular basis. “Giving platelets takes longer but I loved doing it. In the fall or winter, I’d plan my donation on days where there were football or basketball games. I’d sit there and watch them during my donation,” said Jeff.

While sharing his story, Jeff was preparing for his weekend to be recognized as a cardiac arrest survivor. He was taking his wife to the event. Jeff and his wife will be celebrating 10 years of marriage in June, and they plan on taking a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the Smokies. “We spent our honeymoon there, so we are going back! I’m pretty sure we are staying in the same place as well,” explained Jeff. Dollywood is one of Jeff’s favorite places and said it’s everything it’s cracked up to be!

Jeff commented on the importance of having a healthy blood supply, saying “I just can’t imagine in an emergency. A wreck or accident. You show up and they could be like: ‘there’s nothing we can do. We don’t have your blood type.” Jeff went on to say that it’s not just about blood, it’s the 3 components that are important too. A single donation can be separated into platelets, plasma, and red blood cells for patients in need.

This month, we are celebrating and recognizing our amazing volunteers! Thank you, Jeff, for being a volunteer. Your story is inspiring, and you help so many people through your work. You can find out how to become a Red Cross volunteer by going to RedCross.org #VolunteerAppreciationMonth