Starve a Vampire...Donate Blood Instead!
For the past fifteen years I've attempted to donate blood... only to be told (every single time) that my iron was too low. My mother is anemic so I thought maybe I was too. Last year my primary care physician ran all the necessary tests and low and behold... I am not. So... what in the world is the issue?!
Earlier this year my Paw Paw was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. As you can imagine, blood and platlett transfusions were critical in those two months of his battle with this deadly disease. Knowing that those transfusions were made possible through the love and sefllessness of random strangers, I vowed to find a way to donate. So... religiously I've attempted to do so over the past several months. And each time I am told.. "Sorry, your iron is too low". Iron supplements, eating iron rich foods, not drinking alcohol... I've done it all.
Well guess what!? Today was the lucky day! The first test the nurse did showed my iron at 11.8 (too low). Knowing how many times I've been there (I go to the same location each time - that wonderful staff just smiles in an empathic way when I walk in), she offered to do a second test. She was as excited as I was... "You won't believe it! It's 13.3!" Apparently its very rare to have such a jump between two tests like that. I know the reason. My prayers were being heard.
So I proudly donated blood today at the Florida Blood Centers' Michigan Ave location. I've already scheduled another appointment for next Tuesday to donate platelets (barring my counts are high enough). If I can make a difference for someone else like those strangers did for my Paw Paw... its the very least I can do to give back to the community that is bigger than just me. I really encourage all of you to consider doing the same. If in the Florida area... here is the FBC website so you can schedule an appointment: http://www.floridasbloodcenters.org
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