FYI: About 4% of all eligible donors actually donate. 96% of our population doesn't do it! That's a shocking number.
For those of you who don't donate, please consider this:
If your loved ones were injured, wouldn't you pray that there was a blood supply available if they needed it?
If you know anyone who has been touched by cancer, especially leukemia, you probably know how vital it is that they have other people's platelets (basically the part of your blood that clots). You can donate platelets once a week!
I called this entry "a different kind of marathon" because donating platelets (which I did today) take a long time. I donated a double-dose today and it took 90 minutes! That kind of sucked. Way to long with a needle in my arm....but each time it was really bothering me, I remembered how lucky I was to be able to only be here for 90 minutes, and walk out a healthy person. The platelets I donated today will wind up in someone who is fighting for their life, and knows pain I have never known.
If you donate platelets, you are helping give people a fighting chance.
Also, you get to learn valuable info! You get your cholesterol read, you find out if you have enough iron in your blood, what your white blood cell count is. It's a way of "pre-screening" yourself for any potential trouble....or just a way of checking in with your general health.
Think about it: Only 4% of us donate. Let's change that.
ps-The one thing I HATE about the blood center is that they won't take anyone's blood who is openly gay. WHAT THE HELL? They screen the blood for problems, so why not open it to everyone?!?!
