I apologize for the huge gap, but I had lots of life go to Hell in a Handbasket these last two weeks. I won’t get into it. It’s boring. The story I have to tell is more interesting.
At least once a month, I donate platelets and plasma at the Red Cross. I have a unique blood type, AB-. I’ve also never been pregnant, so my blood products are especially desired. My blood type means that I can give platelets to anyone — it’s the opposite of red blood cells. I am the universal platelet donor.
I’ve been doing this off and on for the last four years. I had to take a year break when I went to China, but I’ve given more months than I haven’t. I started donating red blood cells, like most people. My dad use to donate blood, so I got the idea from him. It seems like such a simple thing to do to help someone else.
When I was first asked to donate platelets, I really didn’t have a concept of how my donation helped others. But the Red Cross Apheresis Center had this white board that spelled it all out for me –>
I get to help babies, people with blood diseases, the elderly, young adults, people like me. But the nicest thing was a thank you I received on Twitter from an acquaintance who needs weekly platelet transfusions to stay alive. I didn’t know about her need for platelets. Hearing her story really brought home the need for me to make regular donations.
It’s two hours of time once a month. But it means the world to the recipients. It’s how I can do good in the world, just by being me.