Give blood & save lives!

The first time I donated blood was in 2002. A friend asked if I could donate for a friend’s mother. I never met the mother of my friend’s friend, but I went anyway because my friend asked if I could. This sure sounds like a Friendster account already – six degrees of affinity – but to a certain extent, I think it is.

On February of 1976, a baby girl was born in Quezon City, however, due to some complications, she had to stay in the hospital longer and required blood transfusion. The parents were terrified that they would lose her. I believe God answered the prayers of the parents to make her live, but to a great extent maybe the blood donor was her angel.

Giving blood is so simple. You just go to the hospital’s blood bank or Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). A medical personnel will check your blood pressure, temperature and pulse. A medical technician (or bleeder) gets a blood sample to see if you’re qualified or not. If you are, then they insert a needle into your veins. O.K., this will sting. The blood flows through a tube that is attached to a sterile bag. In my experience, I had to wait 15 to 30 minutes to fill a 450 ml. bag. When you’re done, you’re given free juice! It takes just a few hours to replenish the volume of blood you donated.

It impresses people when they learn that I am a blood donor, maybe because it’s a rarity here in the Philippines. In the US, I was told people are into the habit of donating blood.

In the blood-letting activities that I’ve been to, I noticed that most of the donors are military personnel. You’d think it was to get them acquainted with blood, and an observer like me would have the impression that only the courageous can donate.

Each time I donate, I still anticipate the sting of the needle. For that brief moment, I want to back out. But then, the voice in me tells me to just do it.

A pint of blood can save three lives! Heroic, isn’t it? I don’t know how other blood donors feel, but I certainly don’t feel like a savior. I just do it. Not entirely mechanical, but without a strong sense of purpose or mission.

I never realized how important blood is, until my grandmother needed it.

I had just donated blood the month before my grandma’s operation, so I couldn’t donate. Instead, I texted all the people in my phonebook, but the response wasn’t as favorable.

My executive producer, Cora Dacong, called the Philippine National Red Cross and they immediately sent blood to the hospital.

A bypass operation is one of the more common cases where blood is needed, and our family was fortunate because we had some time to look for a donor. In emergency cases, however, this spells life or death. Statistics show that 25 percent of us will need blood at least once in our lifetime (mayoclinic.com).

I gave blood to a friend who lost a great deal of blood when she gave birth. I donated blood to the mother of a friend of a friend who had cancer. Now, I try to make it a habit to give every three months in blood-letting activities of the Red Cross. I figured, why limit yourself to giving to people you know?

Following the extraction, the med tech labels the bag with my blood type A+, and then puts it in a cooler along with other blood donations. After this, I don’t know who gets my blood.

Perhaps, other donors also wonder.

To the blood donor of that baby girl 30 years ago, whoever you are: It’s me! Thanks for saving my life.

Trivia: Do you know that you burn 650 calories by donating one pint of blood? (Source: mayoclinic.com)

Want to be a blood donor?

Visit PNRC National Blood Center, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila; call 527-0000 loc. 150, 527-0861 or visit the nearest local Red Cross chapter.

If you’re thinking of an outreach program for your organization, the team of PNRC can come to you. There’s no greater gift than life! Please call them.

(E-mail me at [email protected])