I don’t remember why I started giving blood.
As I laid on the chair yesterday, I tried to remember when I first started giving blood and why.
It was kind of a special day yesterday….see, it was my brother’s birthday. The same brother that almost died just over a year ago and has been able to use other people’s blood to help give him life.
I joked with him that I was donating in his name (seeing as it was his birthday), but unfortunately, I wasn’t giving forward, I was just paying back what he’d already used up.
I really can’t rememeber when I made the decision to start giving blood, and I wish I could. What was my motivation? If I look on my card, the first recorded time on this card was May 2004 and that was the last time before I had all my losses that I gave blood, and it says on the top of the card that I gave 3 times before that, so I’m guessing that it was sometime in the fall/winter of 2003.
What happened then? Did I just want to give back? Did it have something to do with 9 11? Although, that was a pretty slow response on my part if it was? Ahhhhh, I just googled “Wars in 2003” and that’s when the war in Iraq was happenning….I wonder if that was part of my reasoning…Hmmmm.
Regardless of my reasoning, I’m happy that I can do this….happy that I have done this, and happy enough to continue to do it…
It takes less that an hour, once every 56 days – no side effects, aside from a bit of a sore arm (for me), AND….you get free juice and cookies. What could be better than that.
If you’ve ever thought about giving blood and you just haven’t, may I encourage you to give it a shot….ha ha ha…give it a shot….but seriously, grab a friend or even just venture out yourself, and donate.
If you’re in Canada, you can check out the Canadian Blood Services website at www.bloodservices.ca to find answers to any questions that you might have or call 1-888-2 donate.
It is a way to give back or to give forward or just to give.
But it’s something so simple and easy and requires so little effort….mostly just time – and a little blood.
Now, I now that not everyone can give blood and I’m not meaing, IN ANY WAY, to make anyone uncomfortable or guilty – just to encourage you to think about giving.
Do you give blood? Do you have a special reason as to when and why you started giving?
It’s all about the Dad’s oatmeal cookies!
Except, it sucks when they ask you to come in because you, along with 39% of the Candian population, and your liquid gold O+ can bless all the other positives, then they tell you your low iron and to get outta there. Couldn’t they still give you a cookie if that happens?
Oh to be O-! Then everyone could get your blood. What type are you?
Isn’t there something about blood type and personality? What’s that all about?
Denver, the rough and tough cowboy, who is afraid of needles, says, “It’s in you to LIVE!”
they won’t let me give my blood! too many blood issues! but I think it is great for people to do…specially the ones with the O+ !
I give blood. It all started in December 2005, I read an article in our local newspaper, front page, about the blood donor clinic that came every 2 weeks to a church in Maple Ridge (where we lived at the time). I thought I’d give it a try and was pleased that I didn’t have to travel far, like to down town Vancouver. My first donation was in January 2006. I gave 4 times that year, 4 times in 2007 and so far 3 times for 2008. It’s a great feeling knowing that you could be saving someone’s life. I like the free juice and cookies too ;0)
I just wanted to thank you for donating, it is greatly appreciated, and a great way to help people in need. Please check out http://www.thankyourdonor.ca and check out all the people you have helped save when you donate blood. Its a great social media project that allows people to upload a picture of themselves and discuss how receiving donated blood has saved their life.