The fountain of youth courses through Beatrice Janyk鈥檚 veins.
And the 95-year-old resident of LJ Christmas Manor in Coquitlam isn鈥檛 afraid to share it.
In fact, Janyk does just that every 56 days. And today she鈥檚 being recognized by Canadian Blood Services (CBS) as the country鈥檚 鈥� and possibly the world鈥檚 鈥� oldest active blood donor.
Janyk, who will turn 96 in August, said she has been donating blood for as long as 鈥� well, she can鈥檛 quite remember.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e as old as me, you鈥檙e allowed to forget some parts,鈥� she told The Tri-City News.
Janyk said her dedication was sparked by an accident her late husband, Bill, was in when they were living on 麻豆传媒映画Island and he worked at a sawmill at Honeymoon Bay. His arm got caught in a piece of machinery and his shoulder was shattered. Worse, the blood he received while he was getting sewn back together was contaminated with hepatitis and he got so sick, he almost died.
鈥淚 saw the importance of giving good blood,鈥� she said.
And her blood is the best, she said, chock full of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as the cod liver oil and iron she takes every evening.
鈥淟ast night, we had liver and onions for dinner, lots of onions,鈥� she said, adding, 鈥淚 sleep alone.鈥�
Between her regular trips to the blood donor clinic in Maillardville, right across the street from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, where she and Bill were married in 1946, Janyk keeps herself busy by assembling rosaries for the Sisters of the Child Jesus order of nuns, carefully lacing colourful plastic beads from a wicker basket onto a wire with a pair of needle-nose pliers.
Janyk said she hasn鈥檛 had much success convincing her friends and neighbours at the lodge to join her for her regular donations.
鈥淚 feel so lucky that I can give,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f I can help anyone, that鈥檚 my aim in life.鈥�
Being honoured for her selfless donations isn鈥檛 new for Janyk, either. When she was living in Bellingham, Wash., for a stretch, she received a special pin and certificate after her contributions totalled 20 gallons.
She said she鈥檚 looking forward to the celebration CBS has planned for her when one of her three sons transports her to the agency鈥檚 麻豆传媒映画headquarters on Oak Street for her milestone donation.
鈥淟ook at the fun we鈥檒l have,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what life鈥檚 all about.鈥�
