Why I Donate Blood and Why You Should Too

At 1:15pm on Monday, May 11th, 2015 I was sitting in an American Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Omaha, NE squeezing that little stress ball pumping some of my O positive blood into a bag. This was 9 weeks after my last donation that took place at the Life Serve Blood Center in Sioux City, IA. My trip in 9 weeks ago put me over 2 gallons donated in my lifetime.

Being a blood donor is one of the easiest ways to give back. If you know me well enough, you are aware that I was an avid volunteer and volunteer coordinator while at Morningside College. One of my life missions is to make as many smiles possible as I can and help make life worthwhile. The whole process of giving blood takes less than an hour. Do you know what giving up one hour of your time every two months can mean to people?

It can mean that someone who needed a blood transfusion is able to make it to one more Husker Volleyball game that they so much enjoy. I had my first experience at  Husker Volleyball game a few weeks back. I tagged along for my cousin Rebecca's birthday. It was a fun time.

It can mean adding one more week out of the hospital giving you time to go for another first boat ride of the year on the lake with family and friends.

Giving blood can mean helping someone who is in the hospital needing some strength. A patient in the hospital is always related or connected to someone somewhere. I just happen to be spending a lot of time in the hospital with a relative of mine who has received several units of blood while sitting in the hospital. I look back at all the times I have given up that time to donate that have helped give other families strength. My Aunt Kristin is a fighter, but she's needed some of that help along the way. Unfortunately, it isn't easy enough to just sit here and pump out some of my blood directly to her.

The Blood Bank is a busy place, and I don't even want to guess how many people are touched by its aid each year. I do know that there is constantly a shortage of donors. 

If you've never done it, give it a try! If you've had a bad experience, give it another chance. I had one day as a college student where nearly an entire side of my arm bruised up from not being poked well, but I've come back. Oopsies happen, but in the end one normal donation sit is painless and does wonders for someone else.

It was actually cool to see a blood donation from the other side. I thought to myself that is what all my donations look like once they make it the hospital.

Donating blood can mean giving someone years to laugh more. I had one big laugh one morning that I had to share with a few friends. I woke up one morning in my hotel room of the hospital to this lovely completely assymetric mess of a hairdo. It made me giggle.

Giving blood can mean more time for a couple to walk down the street and enjoy a beautiful day and their surroundings.

Giving blood can mean giving someone the chance to go dance in the rain again. We sure have had some Seattle (or from my memory - American Samoa) like days with all the precipitation lately. I was walking back from church with my uncle Sunday when we got caught in the rain. That made me think of some Samoa memories and smile. 

I could name many more reasons why I donate blood and why you should, too. Think about it. Better yet, go do it! 

Have a lovely week, all!