Then.
I remembered something.
I guess, I remembered something pretty significant.
Without a blood donation and a transfusion in 1949, I actually wouldn't be here writing this. My daughters and my family wouldn't be here. See, my mother was hit by a car when she was only three years old. The family story said that she was hit by a suspected drunk-driver on a residential, suburban street, while playing in front of her house. She suffered a broken leg and fairly significant blood loss--and needed a blood donation. With a relatively rare, A-Negative blood type--she needed a compatible donor. She needed that donor from available donations in rural/suburban Ohio. In 1949. Her hospital did not have blood for her. Can you imagine hearing that as a parent? Then--they all learned that my grandfather was a match. He was able to donate to her. I am sure, at that moment, his only thought was saving his baby's life--but; he learned later, that he was also paying it forward.
Roughly 40 years later, my grandfather, who suffered from both a congenital heart defect and congestive heart failure; needed to have a hernia operation. He had significant internal bleeding that was causing him problems. His heart wasn't strong enough for the surgery needed to repair the hernia. So, instead, he required blood transfusions fairly frequently due to his internal blood loss from the hernia. Blood donors were there for him. They were there multiple times over many years. In rural Ohio. In the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Blood donations saved my mother's life.
Without those donations--you wouldn't see that little foot in this photo! Or the wrist on the right.
We wouldn't be celebrating Irish Dance competitions for our little one.
Blood donations saved my grandfather's life.
Without those donations--my grandfather would not have lived the nearly 10 more years of his life and would not have met his first great-grandchild.
Without those donations--my grandfather would not have lived the nearly 10 more years of his life and would not have met his first great-grandchild.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in our busy, day to day lives--that we forget things. We forget to give. We forget to pay it forward. We simply forget.
Today--I want to share some facts with you. I want to remind you of some things...
Did you know that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs a transfusion of donated blood?
Blood is always in critical supply but it's especially needed in the summer when donations typically drop 20%!
It takes less than an hour to donate blood--and your blood donation could save three lives! You can donate blood up to SIX times each year! You could save 18 lives every year!
So often, we assume that accident victims are the patients who receive the most donated blood. While my mother received her blood donation as the result of an accident--my grandfather did not. In reality--most people receiving blood are being treated for things such as cancer, or while undergoing organ transplants, or cardiovascular or orthopedic surgeries. In my grandfather's case--he was simply losing blood and unable to withstand surgery.
Have you found time to #BeImpulsive at least once this summer?
I want to remind you of the importance of giving to others--and of the value of "paying it forward".
An hour of your time could save the
lives of 3 people.
3 people. 3 mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers,
sons, or daughters.
Two of my daughters have that A- blood type--like my mom--only present in 6 percent of our U.S. population. I hope that if either of them ever needs a blood donation, there will be blood donations available for them. Wherever they decide to live, to travel or tobe! My husband nor I are compatible. My girls will need to rely on the donations of strangers. Strangers like you!
While I have an A Positive blood type--and I am not necessarily "rare"--I plan to donate blood as often as possible.
It matters.
It matters.
I plan to #BeImpulsive and spend an hour of time doing something good for someone else!
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