People flocked to blood donation offices in the week following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Casper resident Carol Giese was thankful she already had her regular appointment to donate blood that week. She had been donating blood every eight to nine weeks, the maximum allowed, for more than a year.

A year before, Giese's 7-year-old nephew was diagnosed with cancer - a tumor in his stomach - and needed blood during the operation to remove it. He also needed blood platelets, cells that help blood clot, as part of his treatment.

Even though her nephew lived in Arkansas and wouldn't be able to receive her blood, she saw it as an opportunity to help people in Wyoming.

"I didn't know there were that many people who needed blood," Giese said. "I just wanted to do it."

About 60 percent of the population will need blood or blood products at some point in their lives, according to the United Blood Services Web site.

The first time Giese donated blood was in 1992 when her father had heart bypass surgery. She said she donated sporadically after that.

From 2000 to 2006, Giese donated as frequently as she could, a unit of blood every eight to nine weeks at United Blood Services in Casper. She couldn't donate platelets because her veins were too deep.

After taking a job with the school district in 2006, Giese cut back on her donating because of her hours and busy schedule. However, she makes every blood drive held by the district and still donates blood about every four months.

Last week, United Blood Services rewarded Giese for her countless blood donations.

Everyone who donated blood in Wyoming or southern Montana during May and June was entered in a drawing for a seven-day cruise for two to Mexico. Giese donated in May and was notified Friday she had won.

She and her husband will travel to Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos in December.

"I'm still kind of in shock," Giese said. "I've never been to Mexico and neither has my husband."

The cruise is great, Giese said, but she is even more grateful for her nephew. With the help of someone who had given blood, like Giese, her nephew went into remission several years after his diagnosis.

He is now a cancer-free 15-year-old.

Giese said she donates blood to ensure it will be there if she or another someone she loves ever needs it.

"How easy is it to do," Giese said. "I tell everyone to donate."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.

Give your part

Donate at a United Blood Services:

* Casper: Visit offices at 167 S. Conwell St. or make an appointment by calling (307) 237-2328.

* Cheyenne: Visit offices at 112 E. Eighth St. or make an appointment by calling (307) 638-3326.

* Rock Springs: Visit offices at 809 Thompson St. or make an appointment by calling (307) 362-1835.