Donating Blood

I promised myself I would have a more positive blog this week. So, here goes. There is something that you can do to help your community and make you feel good about yourself. Something that doesn't really require you to do much work and you get free treats. Donating blood is a simple procedure that will benefit three people in your community. One pint of blood is divided up so as to help as many people as possible. I'm sure everyone saw the stories on the news after the snowstorms of late about how the Blood Center of Wisconsin is in a critical shortage. And, it does help that folks are given a reminder and some will actually go to donate. But how many will continue on every 8 weeks?

I have given over 9 gallons of blood since the age of 16 when I first went with my mother. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross West Bend Chapter from 1973 until her death in 1996. She felt strongly that in life if you help your neighbors, there's a good chance they will help you back when you need them. And even if they didn't, you were really helping other people because it was the right thing to do, not for favors. She took care of victims of house fires for many of those years, often “employing” me as driver, carrier of stuff and general go-fer. It's amazing how many house fires happen at 2am.

As I don't have the time to devote like mom did, I have tried to keep up donating blood every 8 weeks. I usually go on Saturday mornings at the Sheboygan office. I have very difficult veins to “get” and the phlebotomists there are the best I've ever had draw my blood. Even with those veins they are usually happy to see me as I have a rarer blood type and they profusely thank me when I'm done. I know they are just “doing their job”, but they do seem to be happier when they are busy with folks donating one after the other.

So, think about it. The chances of needing blood at some point in your life or a loved ones life is, unfortunately, high. Accidents, surgery, and cancer are just some of the reasons why you might need it. There is no synthetic blood. There is no substitute. Your body can easily replace the pint taken from you within a few days. If you donate now, someone who may not have had a chance before may just be given the second chance they need to heal.


Blog for the week of Feb. 25th