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Why I Donate Blood
Glenda Plunkett, Special to Redcross.org
Thursday, August 24, 2006 — A local man ran a grocery store across the alley from my grade school. He was beloved in our community for his good nature and kindness to the children. School children would sneak across the alley and buy candy at lunchtime or after school. This little man was a jolly, old fellow with a hearty laugh who had emigrated from Italy to make Lovington his home.
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They're Counting on You
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Every two seconds someone in America needs blood, yet only five percent of the eligible U.S. population donates blood in any given year. |
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Because blood is perishable, new donations are needed every day. |
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It takes about an hour to donate blood, and one donation can save the lives of up to three people. |
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Eligible donors can give blood every 56 days or up to six times in a year. |
As a small child my mother had our family in a church pew every Sunday morning on time. One such Sunday morning while in church, a state policeman burst through the church doors. He begged forgiveness for the interruption and then continued to explain the emergency.
He told us that our beloved grocer had been a near-fatal, head-on collision. He was going to bleed to death if he did not receive a blood transfusion soon. He asked that two people who could donate O+ blood come with him immediately. My father and another parishioner went with him. They both donated a pint of blood that day. I remember thinking my father a hero for helping the man who ran the candy counter.
Months later after a long recovery our beloved Italian grocer returned to our church. After the church service he asked to speak at the pulpit. He said in his heavy Italian brogue, “I came to this country with all Italian blood in my veins and now I have all American blood. Thank you for saving my life.”
This is a true story from my past. I wanted to personally remind people that the blood you donate to the American Red Cross helps your neighbors and friends. You give the gift of life every time you donate blood. Be a hero to your child by rolling up your sleeve and donating. I also want to remind people that if these neighborhood blood drives are not successful, we will have to go back to knocking on doors and begging for last minute donations to save the lives of people who contribute to our communities.
To learn more about giving blood including current donor eligibility guidelines, visit Redcross.org and click on “Biomedical Services.” To find a blood drive or donation collection center near you, visit GiveLife.org or call 1-800-GIVELIFE.
Glenda Plunkett is with the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross.
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