After Chase Pemberton was diagnosed with leukemia, the Hopkinsville community came together in overwhelming numbers to donate blood in his honor.
The 24-year-old, who grew up in Hopkinsville and graduated from Hopkinsville High School, was recently hired at Dell in Nashville after finishing his degree at Western Kentucky University.
“He’s outgoing, he takes life, anything that goes his way he handles it easily,” said his aunt, Leslie Sorrell. “He grew up here in Hopkinsville, graduated from Hopkinsville High and just last year graduated from Western Kentucky and got a job at Dell in Nashville.”
Pemberton is currently receiving daily transfusions of blood and platelets, and his medical team warned the family about critically low blood supply levels. That prompted the family, along with First Christian Church and the Clarksville-based nonprofit Blood Assurance, to organize a community blood drive.
“We were overwhelmed,” Sorrell said. “We had 81 appointments set up this morning and we have lost track, but we have over 81 walk-ins.”
Pemberton has type O negative blood, which can be given to anyone but can only receive the same type—making donations from compatible donors even more urgent.
Hannah Claussen was one of the many walk-in donors. She said it was her first time giving blood, but once she learned her blood type, she didn’t hesitate.
“I just found out the other day that I’m O negative and I heard they specifically needed O negative and I’m like, well I can’t not donate,” Claussen said. “This is my first time. I’ve never done it before so I was really nervous, but they really needed it. It was for a good cause so I couldn’t not help.”
Blood Assurance Account Manager Suzanne Adkisson said the turnout far exceeded expectations, prompting the group to quickly pivot and expand staffing and vehicle support.
“This situation was a little bit different because Chase had been diagnosed with leukemia and the community here wanted to do something to show support to his family by having a blood drive,” Adkisson said. “It has just grown and grown beyond really anybody’s expectations. It’s been amazing the response from the community.”
Adkisson confirmed that a second drive is already being planned for those who weren’t able to donate at the first event.
“We’ve got a second drive already lined up for those who were not able to donate today so that they have a chance to donate,” she said. “And I think we’re going to make this a regular thing because this community is so supportive.”
Sorrell added that donations made in Pemberton’s name not only help the overall blood supply, but also help reduce the cost of his ongoing treatments.
“The way I understand it works is people give in Chase’s name—he only receives O negative—but he has been taking blood from the bank, so he gets credit for those that give even though it’s another,” she said. “It helps defers the cost.”
She encouraged others to consider donating—not just for Chase, but for the countless lives blood donations can save.
“Giving blood saves three lives. It’s something that’s easy to do,” Sorrell said. “In the scheme of things, it’s a few hours of your time to make a super big difference in the lives of others, especially Chase right now.”
