Life is sometimes a big struggle and we can find ourselves more than a little lost with all that is happening around us. Every once in a while something happens that seems to take us out of the darkness and chaos, to remind us that life is still very, very good. And this week has been amazing!
Let me tell you a little story.
When I was 18 years old, I became a BLOOD DONOR! Oh I didn't do it for the right reasons, I was busy trying to get out of one of my high school classes. At that time, the Canadian Red Cross ( now known as Canadian Blood Services) would come to high schools, set up a clinic, and hopefully recruit new donors for this important life saving venue. That was my door to getting out of that dreaded class!
Anyways, that was many years ago and much has changed in the process of giving blood. Some of the changes are great and some of them are not. but all were necessary to keep the supply of blood safe for those who needed it most.
You see the story changed for me when my father became ill. At that time I was already a regular donor but hadn't really thought about how much my donation would impact others. Oh I knew people needed blood for all kinds of things, but it was never personal to me. Well that changed quickly.
My father had cancer and while he was undergoing treatments, he would receive blood transfusions as part of his care. When he would come home from those transfusions, he looked so much better and had more energy. It seemed transformative to us and to him. I would talk to him and he'd say to me, please keep on being a blood donor, it makes such a difference to me!
Well how can you say no to that? Especially when you find out you and he are the same blood type!
At that point in my life, I no longer looked at giving blood as a chore, rather it became part of my mission to help my father and anyone else who needed that help.
Fast forward to this week. While I was at my regular BLOOD DONOR CLINIC, the people who had just finished their donations, were sitting at the coffee table and tossing their donor cards on the table for the volunteer to record their donation on the back. Jokingly I said. Okay, "Who's got the most donations and do they get a prize?" Everyone at the table had a good laugh until I pulled out my card and they got a look at it. Theirs were emblazoned with 10, 20, 30 donations and then mine hit the pile and it said 100!
I didn't think it was a big deal, but everyone at the table were totally impressed. A discussion ensue and I encouraged all of them, that their day will come when 100 will be on their cards too.
It wasn't until this week when a package arrived that made me stop and think. My other half said, "did you order another book?" I was truly surprised to be getting a package because I did NOT order anything. Opening it I was even more surprised! I guess getting to that 100 was a bigger deal than I had thought. It was a certificate from Canadian Blood Services!
Now I was truly impressed and my other half made me realize that I had dedicated the last 25 years of my life to giving blood 4 times a year. Well when you put it that way, I guess it is impressive.
Now this story is not about bragging rights, because that just isn't me, rather it's a story about encouraging YOU or anyone in your family to become BLOOD DONORS! The need is always there and as the Slogan says, "It's in you to give!" It doesn't cost you anything other than about an hour of your time and it helps people that you may never ever meet! But be certain of one thing, the people that need the blood will be thanking you in their hearts for helping them!
Do you need something to help you through your darker times? Take an hour and become a BLOOD DONOR, you will feel so much better about life when you know you make a difference.
In Canada if you want to know more you can follow this link: https://www.blood.ca/en/ways-donate
In the USA you can follow this link: https://www.redcrossblood.org/
I do hope that this, my story, will encourage you to become part of a lifeline for so many people that are in need!
I certainly agree that "It's in you to give!" You are, indeed, a very thoughtful and giving person. Blood transfusions have become such a routine part of medicine, that we forget that it takes donors for that needed life blood to be available. Thank you to you and all donors!
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