One Aspect of Myself of Which I am Extremely Proud

At the American Red Cross with My Phlebotomist, Shaunda
Photo Taken September 2, 2011
Thanks to Medical Assistant Jeannine for Taking the Photo

I donated blood earlier today at the American Red Cross and am scheduled to give my fifty-sixth donation, equaling a total of seven gallons, on May 10th.

It all started with a wrong number....

Shortly after my Dad passed away (on December 18, 2003), I answered a telephone call at home, and the caller was a representative from the American Red Cross looking for the people who had that telephone number previously.  She went on to explain that her reason for calling was to ask them to donate blood.  After providing her with the new number, it occurred to me that I should donate too, and so a commitment was born.  With a few exceptions because of holidays, scheduling conflicts, and one four-month deferral*, I have donated every fifty-six days for the last nine years.



The need is constant.  The gratification is instant.  Give blood.
Image obtained from http://www.wiu.edu/....
No Copyright Infringement Intended



*I have a seizure disorder, and in September 2004, I had a seizure and was instructed at that time not to donate again until January 13, 2005.

Since each donation can save up to three lives, I have to date helped to save as many as 165 lives, and there is no greater reward in the world than that, at least not for me.

For more information about the American Red Cross and donating blood, please see their websites at http://www.redcross.org/ and  http://www.redcrossblood.org/,  their Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/redcross and https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossBlood, and their Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/RedCross.

Have you ever received a "wrong number" call, and it turned out to be something really important to you?  Have you ever placed such a call?  Please share your comments below.