Why I Donate Blood

I'm giving blood later today. Before the Tubbs Fire, I gave blood at the Blood Centers of the Pacific office in Santa Rosa. They don't have one of those down here in Petaluma, so I'm taking advantage of the blood van that's visiting today. One of the things I liked to do after giving blood at Blood Centers was adding an entry to the 'Why I Donate Blood' journal in the recovery lounge. I doubt they brought along the journal, so I thought I'd write today's entry on my blog.

I made my appointment a few weeks ago, but I can't help but think about all the innocent blood spilled in Florida on Wednesday. With over a dozen Florida high school students hospitalized, I can't imagine how much blood has been necessary to save their lives. My pint of O- won't travel the 3,000 miles to help those kids, but it will do some good here on the west coast. 

I've been a regular blood donor since turning 17. In that time I've donated about 55 pints. Sometimes I wonder who received my blood, who my blood helped. Ignorance is bliss. My blood could have helped anyone: the person in line at Peet's, the checkout person at Safeway, etc. It's a great feeling to do that kind of anonymous good deed.

However, I do know who benefited from my first blood donation: me.

Just before my 13th birthday, my doctor told me I needed a spinal fusion to correct my scoliosis. In the month leading up to the surgery, I gave four pints of blood to myself. Surgeons used this blood during the surgery and in my first days in the hospital. If I remember correctly, I got it all back. A day-long surgery will do that to a person. Going down to the American Red Cross introduced me to blood donation. I hated needles, but it wasn't as bad as I thought. I learned that my O- blood was always in-demand, and my status as a CMV- donor made it even more valuable. CMV- blood goes to premature babies and patients who have severely compromised immune systems. 

So at the age of 13, I made a vow: give blood on my 17th birthday. In 2002, that's precisely what I did.

So if you can give blood, give.