Blood and platelet donation
 

Hi everyone! Just wanted to share that I was really happy to see on the news the other day the need for blood and platelet donation - especially over the Christmas period. Particularly in Victoria, Australia, they said that there was a shortage of platelets. It was great that this information made it to the news, and hopefully will cause more people to think about its importance.

Well, most of my mates in particular would have had their ears pricked up - and I hope will be given to donate this Christmas! :)

Have a lovely Christmas everyone. xoxo Julie

P.S. Proud to say I have donated whole blood 6 times before I got sick. Unfortunately have got heaps more back! Thanks to all donors. You're awesome. :D

Thanks for doing your own little bit of publicity!

The need for donors never goes away, but people who are busy with the holidays tend to postpone donations or forget about them, often leading to blood bank shortages during the last couple weeks of the year. Those who plan to donate soon should try to take care of it this month.

Thanks to all of the blood donors out there!

Low blood donation time of year--WE can help!
 

[b]I wrote and submitted this to a local free paper for submission--numerous people all over the county told me they saw it. Hopefully, as a "by-product", it may have encouraged a few people to remember to donate...[b]

November 2010

This is a "thank you" to people I have never met, never will, and yet they are literally a part of my life. Thanks to you all, I am here this Thanksgiving holiday.
Last Thanksgiving holds a special meaning to me as I spent it in a hospital, undergoing intense chemotherapy for Acute Leukemia. Over the past year, I have had numerous blood and platelet transfusions to allow me to survive while undergoing continuing treatment for my disease. THANK YOU to all of the blood donors, who make the effort and take the time to donate your blood and other various lifesaving blood products. It was there the second I needed it--every time! Each time I watch the nurse hang a bag of blood or precious platelets, I wonder who the donor was, and if he or she knew how important their donation is in prolonging my life. And, of course, thanks to the Red Cross and all of the doctors, nurses, and other people and organizations who make this miracle happen, every day, for many of us facing all types of health challenges. Because of you, I will get to spend Thanksgiving 2010 with my precious family. Without your sacrifice and generosity, I would not be alive today. This Thanksgiving, I give special thanks to the blood donors in our country!
Sincerely,
Cheri Decker

If each one of us put a reminder to donate in our local papers, imagine the response! It seems to me, blood drives are often underpublicized. :)

Cheri, thanks on behalf of all of us who've benefited from the generosity of blood and platelet donors. I'm part of that group and share your appreciation for their gifts. Some years ago, I was invited by the Red Cross to speak to a large group of their blood services workers. These are the people who do the work to collect, process, and transport blood and blood products. They see and know the donors and know they are doing important work, but they don't get to see the results of their efforts very often. They don't get to see and know the patients. So I stood up and told them how much they are appreciated and how much patients like me depend on them being there as much as we depend on the donors. They were pleased and maybe a little surprised to get such recognition. If you find yourself in contact with any of these wonderful people over the holidays, be sure to give them an extra thank you from all of us.

Happy holidays!
Ruth

Thank you all for your comments. Amen. Until October I had no idea there were so many people who needed blood.

Lori

I last gave blood on December 30, 2004. When I went the next March to give again, I was told my Hg was 7.8 and I needed blood. Thus began the long journey.:)

Donating platelets this coming Monday and just wanted to say to you all that I'm honored to be able to do it. We're all just a part of the process and the blessing comes to all!

Cheri, what a great way to say thank you! Prior to my husband becoming ill, he was a huge advocate for blood donations - he organized blood drives at the school he was teaching at and donated as frequently as possible. So it was a big surprise when he became transfusion dependant and has needed the donation of so many! We can not express our appreciation enough, so when our church, friends and people ask what they can do to help - we always ask for them to donate blood as often as possible!