For years and years, I regularly donated blood to the American Red Cross. It was easy, didn’t hurt, and helped other people. Unlike donating money, giving blood did not even deprive me of anything. As a matter of fact, after each donation I treated myself to a good steak dinner. (No, I don’t want to hear medical evidence that the steak dinner was not “necessary”. 🙂 )
One day I got a letter from the Red Cross. My blood had been screened and “failed” the initial screening. They retested and found that I am healthy and have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, US law forbids them from accepting my blood because once I came up positive on a screening test. Bummer! Here I sit, healthy, with lots o’ blood that I want to donate, and blocked from doing so.
The Red Cross has been desperate for blood for a long time and the situation has been getting worse because of new medical worries about previously unknown diseases. Katrina has made the situation untenable.
If you are able to donate blood, please do. It only takes an hour of your time. You will save someone’s life.
Do it for that anonymous person who needs blood. Or do it as a personal favor to me. Or do it because it is “the right thing” to do. Just do it!
Thank you.
Wow…thank you from writing this. Giving blood is necessary and yet the requirements are (and maybe rightly so) so strict that I am not surprised they are in demand. I was first not allowed to donate blood because I had traveled to Africa. I had to wait a few years. Then, like you, even though I am O+ and have been a regular donor since I was able to start again a few years ago, I failed my first screening (passed my second one) and now I can no longer donate. While I understand that they must assure the safest blood for all recipients I am not surprised they are in demand. Like you, I agree that if you can, you should donate, and hopefully you will successfully pass through all the hopes you must jump through!