#redcrossontheway

So you all know I LOVE giving blood...right?

Well, I don't love it, but I don't hate it and I can tolerate a needle in my arm for seven minutes, so I donate as often as I can. 

One of my favorite parts is the email you get after donating that tells you where your blood goes! Of course they can't tell you who the patient is that received it, but I know where my bag of blood went...North Carolina!

Thank you for giving blood with the American Red Cross on 12/21/2015. After first ensuring that local needs were met, your blood donation was sent to Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC to help a patient in need. Your donation is on its way to change lives!

Every day, patients receive blood for a variety of conditions including life-threatening illnesses, blood disorders and traumas. Your blood donations are critical to helping save patients' lives.

You may be able to help more patients with fewer appointments by donating double red cells. Ask if you're eligible to give a double red cell donation when you make your next appointment.

On behalf of the hospitals and patients we serve, thank you for being a Red Cross blood donor.

Doesn't it make you want to give blood too? Click HERE to find a blood drive near you. 

Be the change. Make the difference. 

GIVE BLOOD.

 

Sorry I haven't been around as much lately. There is a lot happening. I haven't much felt like writing to inspire people or change the world... But I am trying! Sooo here I am.

And guys. There is a serious blood shortage! With all this cold and snow and constantly being freezing, no one wants to go out to a blood drive. 

There were 9,700 canceled appointments just in this month! I went today and they said they finally got a lot of people in...so numbers are slowly getting back up. But if you are able, DONATE. It is so easy and you get free cookies after!

No matter what kind of weather it is people still need blood transfusions all the time. Literally, every two seconds someone receives a blood transfusion. If you can stand a needle and a bag of blood at your side for 10 minutes, please find a blood drive near you!

Be the change. Make the difference. 

my gallon of blood

I have a huge love for the American Red Cross, and I believe that love grew stronger last night :) 

I finally was able to find a blood drive by me that I could get to after work by looking on their website here. I was all excited because it had been WAY too long since I had donated, and when I got there I found that they have done some upgrading. You can now check in by scanning your donor card AND they have pretty new booklets to read before hand! AND they give you these great stickers...honestly, how more perfect could they be?!

So I'm waiting patiently for my turn and what I think is the worst part--they prick your finger to check your iron level. Unfortunately, the first finger prick test determined my iron was too low. BUT if you are willing, they will prick another finger on the other hand and retest your iron. So I toughed it out and suffered through another finger prick...and I passed!

So the next nurse comes to check my papers, sign my donor card and take me to a cot...and come to find out this would be my eighth pint of blood donated. EIGHT PINTS MEANS ONE GALLON! I was so excited because a gallon of blood just seems like so much. One pint can save up to three lives, so theoretically, I may have saved up to twenty four lives! AND I now have this awesome pin to prove it. What a great day :)

If you don't mind needles and the sight of a few bags of blood sitting around, you should really try donating. It is SO easy. All you have to do is lay there and squeeze a stress ball (probably helpful for your stress level anyway), and then after you get juice and cookies. Click here to find out more about donating and find a blood drive near you!

Be the change. Make the difference. 

how to help Japan

As many of you know already, last week there was an earthquake in Japan, resulting in a tsunami which devastated the country. It has taken lives and left many stranded and/or homeless. 

I was intrigued by a TV special about the disaster Friday night, but disappointed watching it. There was very little about what was happening over there. Instead, they spent their time talking about how it's possible for something like this to happen here.


I get it, we should be concerned as well--prepare ourselves more, build our buildings the proper way. But I had to turn it off because I just couldn't believe how little attention they paid to what has already happened.

Yes, we should be prepared, but we have to help those that this has already happened to. 


The American Red Cross provides shelter, food and support to those who have been effected by natural disasters. As much as I would love to get on a plane and go start saving the world on my own, I know there are others trained and far more prepared to do that than I am. 

As of right now, the Japanese Red Cross has not requested any blood assistance from the American Red Cross, but you can provide financial support at this time. This money will go toward providing needed items, first aid and shelter to those in Japan. 

Click here to visit the American Red Cross website and make a financial donation.   

Be the change. Make the difference. 

Get Pumped - Give Blood

I just finished taking pictures at one of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes Mobile Food Initiatives, and will have pictures to share with you later this week! Since I am out of town and can't quite get to the pictures today, like I would like to, I thought I would do a post about another easy way for you to donate! 

GIVE BLOOD!


During my good old days at Portage Central, I was in Student Council and we hosted a Blood Drive every year. At the time, I wasn't old enough to actually give blood, but the Student Council helped by checking people in, talking them through the whole "needle" part, escorting them to the snack table after, and handing out snacks. 

It was always a great day because we got to miss class all day...but really, it was awesome to see so many people that came in to donate!

When I got to GVSU, I started trying to donate every time I could when their was a Blood Drive on campus. It was great because I could go between classes or before work because it was right there. It was easy.

Me giving blood on my ASB'07 trip

So, sticking with my theme with the blog here....I unfortunately have let that tradition die with graduating college. And that's silly. It's such a simple thing to do (as long as you're not afraid of needles!) and it can save lives!

The only time giving blood hurt...on an ASB trip in '07 when the nurse couldn't find a "good vein." This was THE ONLY time this has ever happened to me, I promise! It doesn't hurt usually...

Click here to find a blood drive near you and schedule an appointment! I would definitely recommend making an appointment so you don't have to wait in line :) Depending on if you make an appointment or not, the whole process can take around an hour, but you actually are only giving blood for about 10 minutes. 

One pint of YOUR blood can save up to SIX lives. You donate about one pint each time you donate, and you can donate every fifty six days. 

That means you can donate SIX times a year.


That also means you can help save THIRTY SIX people in one year.


Be the change. Make the difference.