Got blood?

[hacksaw2828]

I just would like to encourage everyone to donate blood over the next few days to your local blood banks in memory of Sept. 11. I don't have money for charities so I donate as a way to help other people in a way that money can't. You might even save a life, maybe someone you know. It's easy and only takes a couple of minutes, a brief physical, registration and a questionaire. For those of you out of work, please donate. It might even make you feel better about yourself knowing you are still an important part of society even though things look tough at the moment. For those of you in the Richmond Va area, right now if you donate to Virginia Blood Services, you get a $5 gift card to Qdoba's, buy 1 get 1 free ticket to the Richmond Spiders home game against Hofstra and cheap tickets to the State Fair. So get out and donate and take in a football game for a great cause.

 

[Ace]

Thanks, hacksaw. I give every three months.

 

[Killick]

Good reminder - I haven't donated in years. At last count, I was over a gallon of my universal donor lifejuice, then I just got busy.

 

[KG]

The last few times I've tried to donate, my iron was too low. I've been trying to eat foods with a higher iron content so I can get back to regular donating. I have CMV blood, whatever that stands for, which means I haven't had some common virus and my blood can go to cancer patients and babies.

 

[KG]

Wait, I think that's CMV negative.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I give every two months. I absolutely urge everyone to do that little bit. Plus you can sometimes build up quite a decent collection of free t-shirts for your wardrobe. But absolutely do it.

 

[Football_Bat]

 

[Ashy Larry]

While you're at it, register to be a bone marrow donor. And, please......please be an organ donor. If you need your liver in heaven (or hell), blame me.

 

[Bob Cook]

I gave at the office. Really, my office regularly has blood drives. They also call me, because I'm O-Negative, the universal donor. Except I can only receive O-Neg. Now that doesn't seem fair.

 

[TrooperBari]

Used to give blood, but the Red Cross black-listed me a few years back for reasons it never actually explained.

Is it possible to get back in the RC's good graces?

 

[Oggiedoggie]

I think it's pretty easy, just give up needles and anal sex.

 

[Dyno]

I definitely echo the organ donation message. My dad was a kidney transplant recipient and I can't even begin to describe how life-changing it was for him. He could have stayed on dialysis indefinitely, but getting a new kidney was amazing for him.

 

[waterytart]

Used to be a pheresis donor. Now that the kids are both in school, I should have resumed it several years ago. Thanks for the nudge, hacksaw.

 

[outofplace]

I definitely echo the organ donation message. My dad was a kidney transplant recipient and I can't even begin to describe how life-changing it was for him. He could have stayed on dialysis indefinitely, but getting a new kidney was amazing for him.

Thirded, as recipient of donated tissue myself. I had a corneal transplant a few years back. Without it, I'd be well on my way to going blind by now.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

Used to give blood, but the Red Cross black-listed me a few years back for reasons it never actually explained.

Is it possible to get back in the RC's good graces?

I had to sit out a year after traveling to a part of Mexico where there was a malaria threat. I can't imagine them not telling you why. You should give them a call for specifics.

 

[TrooperBari]

Used to give blood, but the Red Cross black-listed me a few years back for reasons it never actually explained.

Is it possible to get back in the RC's good graces?

I had to sit out a year after traveling to a part of Mexico where there was a malaria threat. I can't imagine them not telling you why. You should give them a call for specifics.

I'll do that, though I can't imagine they'll be quick to welcome me back considering my current location.

 

[outofplace]

I jumped in on the tissue donor thing earlier, but I wanted to share a little reminder of how easily this all can hit home.

A day ago, my mother fell and ripped open her knee. She is in the hospital, but ok. I live in another state, so I spent a good part of yesterday getting here and being with her. She has needed a couple of transfusions because she did lose a lot of blood. Thanks again to the donors.