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DEL.ICIO.USI gave blood to thank those who gave to my son
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My son needed two blood transfusions in the early days of his life.
Neither Joann nor I could donate because such units must be in stock long before it’s needed. Before you donate, you have to be screened and tested, too, to see if you’re a match.
Fortunately, someone, somewhere - strangers - had already stepped up for Miles, and for that, we’re extremely grateful.
Our medical emergency took place nearly 12 years ago. At that moment, I made a vow to become a blood donor. It was a no-brainer at the time, a way to say thank you, to benefit others.
And there’s always a need. Especially this time of the year when donations are down locally and nationwide and companies, organizations and churches haven’t hosted blood drives because everybody’s focused on the holidays. Folks are on vacation. Schools, which account for about 20 percent of donations, are closed. So throughout the holidays and most of January, the blood supply is much lower. Sometimes critically so.
“We hold fewer blood drives during December and January, which, obviously, results in fewer people donating blood,” said Cammie J. Barnes, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Blood Services Southern Region.
But hospitals remain filled with patients who need it. Every year, the American Red Cross sends blood to 130 hospitals across Georgia, including Gwinnett Medical Center (about 9,500 units of red blood cells) andastside Medical Center (about 2,600 units of red blood cells).
On Wednesday, as part of the Badie Tour, I chose to be a life-saver. I gave blood. So did Jeff Thrutchley of Lawrenceville.
He told me he donated regularly as a college student but dropped the practice in later years. After the Sept. 11 terrorist strike, though, he took it up again. Now he gives about every 60 days - “consistently,” he said while we waited to donate at the Duluth donor center off Sugarloaf Parkway.
Richard Werblow of Dacula dropped by to stress the daily need for platelet donors. Platelets help form clots to stop bleeding. Cancer and leukemia patients, among others, need lots of them. Most people can give platelets every two weeks, up to 24 times each year; blood can be donated every 56 days.
Werblow was a regular donor of both. Then his veins collapsed. “I started donating blood when I was in my 20s,” said Werblow, 65. “Just wanted to do some goodness.”
Most people assume they are unable to donate because they are on antidepressants, or take medications to curb cholesterol and blood pressure. Often, that’s not the case, Barnes and others told me.
If you have a low threshold for pain, I’m here to tell you: That 18-gauge needle stings initially, but it’s bearable.
And in this case, the pain is well worth the gain.
The Duluth Donor Center is located at 3090 Premiere Parkway, Suite 500. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For information about blood donations or to find a blood drive near you, call 1-800-448-3543 or visit www.givebloodredcross.org
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com
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Comments
By LB
January 11, 2007 06:28 AM | Link to this
I think donating blood is a very good way to show our appreciation to other people. I have no way of knowing who got my blood but the people who did are ones who really needed it.
I used to go regularly to a doner center to give. I will start going again because there is a real need for a good stock of blood. I quit going and was mad at the Red Cross because after 2 months I would be bothered by “sales solicitors” for lack of better terms to come and give again. Out of frustration of the annoying and invasive phone calls I just gave up on the Red Cross. Those calls turned my feelings of being appreciated into feelings like I was being used and unappreciated. If it weren’t for these calls I would still be giving.
Because of this blog I will go by again and help restock the banks. I just don’t want to start getting annoying calls again.
By Deborah Lee
January 12, 2007 08:48 AM | Link to this
I earned a one gallon pin from the Duluth Branch for donating blood. I just did it because everytime you donate blood you save three peoples’ lives. You do not get paid and you do not get a tax deduction. You do not get columns or web pages writen about you, but you feel really good about it. The only problem that I had was they have to ask you some very personal questions and I always feel that I must be a VERY boring person because I answer NO to them all. Some people must have some very exciting lives.
By Terri
January 12, 2007 06:43 PM | Link to this
Those of us who can answer no to all those questions need to be donating blood because a lot of people aren’t eligible. Their reasons are irrelevant.
By meme
January 13, 2007 07:33 AM | Link to this
I give blood, but I don’t do it often enough. I am also on the bone marrow registery. Check into that.
By Jan
January 13, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
IN 1996 the red cross sent me a letter telling my my blood had been discarded because it tested positive for hepitius C and I freaked!!!! My Doctor ran a more detailed/special test and found that I had what is called a False-Positive Reading. I do not have hep C, it just reads that way???? Weird, so I can not give anymore,,,,,,,,,, and when I offered up my bone marrow for a co-worker, I had only enough for me, so I could not give there either………. MY Point??? GIVE, some people Want to, but can not, so everyone should TRY.
By Melissa
January 16, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
I give every 56 days with two of my co-workers. We have had some challenges in scheduling in the past and now have a single point of contact at the ARC. Ron calls us about 3 weeks before it is time for us to donate. We get scheduled at the same time. If you have concerns, share them with the ARC staff - they will do what they can to resolve them. Ron certainly has for us!