The final self-portrait challenge for the month of April, as per Lelly of Lelly's Musings was to "Gift a Stranger".
The first idea I considered was to anonymously pick up the tab for a stranger in a restaurant -- someone did that for us once and it totally rocked! But the one rule Lelly stipulated was that we weren't supposed to spend any money on our gifts. So, I went back to the only real gift I ever give strangers .... the one I *should* give more often .... the one we should ALL give more often.
Good ole' fashioned blood donation.
I've been a pretty vocal proponent of blood donations on this site in the past, especially when Kendrie was on leukemia treatment and we were on the RECEIVING end of the donations.
Less than an hour of your time, you can potentially help save up to three lives, and, best of all, cookies and juice afterwards. Seriously people, its a win-win!!
If you'd like to know more about it, you can read here and get my personal perspective on the good it does all of us.
If you'd like to know more about the time I totally and completely lost my shit over the future (or lack thereof) of humanity, you can read here and see why I should perhaps consider tranquilizers for myself.
22 comments:
Way to go for getting this weeks SP done! You are so good-
Great gift- Jay is always good at doing his every 60 days. Me not so much. Add it to the list ...
Loved, reading the past entries!
I'm really bummed out; I've given blood many,many times over the years, but when I tried to give a couple months ago I was informed that I am now banned for life from ever giving again because I lived in Germany back in 1985, due to the threat of mad cow disease. Kind of late to worry about that now, since I've given several times since then! It's just frustrating that I can't give again, at least until they change this policy someday...
i have never given blood...what a great gift!
Love it! What a great idea. Good for you.
this is a wonderful gift. i cant im anemic. but that is so great that you are so thoughtful
Oh, I wanted to add to my post above; I did join the National Marrow donor registry because of one of your past posts urging people to do so, and I contacted them about the mad cow-blood ban thing and was informed that it wouldn't make any difference to them, they'd take me anyway if I were ever matched. So that's good news!
I used to give blood regularly, and then the Red Cross made the rule that if you lived in Europe in the 80's you are no longer eligible to be a blood donor...FOREVER! I gave blood quite a few times after living in Germany, so not sure how safe we really are. :)
Gayle in AL
Delurking to say thanks for the inspiration to give blood. It's something I never think about and never did - hopefully that'll change soon.
I also enjoyed the details of your trip to see Pioneer Woman. You're too funny!
What a great idea and a wonderful gift for a stranger!
Hey Kristie,
Way to go! I love that you donate blood - Justin received nearly 20 PRBC transfusions and 4 or 5 platelet transfusions when he was on treatment. And I love your passion about donating blood as well as signing up for the bone marrow registry. I went back and read both of your previous entries - and am in total agreement about those videos saying "its ok to say no" - its not ok to say no!
Everyone who can, should donate blood regularly. Please listen to Kristie and go do it.
Thank you for reminding me - its been a few months since I donated and I am going to do it this weekend!
Hugs,
Lorie
what a great SPT! I always feel so proud of myself after giving blood, but it's not somthing I remember to do as often as I should. Thanks to you, it's now on my to do list.
Great gift!! But my pink purse totally rocks, too! :-)
Go Kristi! This is something I started doing 5 yrs ago, all because of one sweet little Angel Allie Scott! I'm a regular every 2 months, Carter Blood Care has me on speed dial, lol! Its a great reminder, and I love seeing their name pop up on my caller ID at work. (yeah, someone is thinking about me, lol) I'm also on the Bone Marrow Registry too. Everytime I sit there donating, I think about all the babies/kids like Kendrie in need, makes me feel so good! Whats an hour of my time, and like you said free cookies and juice! I'm a hard stick, even thou I load up on the water b/4 going, my veins are shy, and deep. But I have a favorite girl, and she gets me the 1st stick everytime, I love her! More people need to donate, the gift of life for sure! Hugs!
P.S. your famous, just look at you over on PW's blog, I love your hair, you must not have to dye it every 6 weeks like myself! Just joking, I think you were already famous, he he he!
Kristie-thank you for this reminder...I give platelets at least once a month myself because my daughter has been battling a brain tumor(currently on chemo) for 6 years now so I know the importance of blood products. I, like you, am one of those peopl who "loses it" on those folks who "don't like needles". Excuse me? Neither does my child, but she doesn't have a choice if she WANTS TO LIVE! I am just still in shock that people can be so completely self-absorbed that they won't help others by doing something so simple as donation. Let me assure you, when its donation time here at work or church, folks avoid me like the plague! They know all too well how I feel about it and don't want to be guilted! :)
caringbridge.org/visit/shelbimae
Thanks for giving blood. I have a blood disorder called MDS so my bone marrow doesn't make enough red blood cells. I go in about every six weeks for a blood transfusion and receive three units of red cells. Without people like you donating blood, I would not have a lot of energy and wouldn't feel very good. Thank you!
Wow - re-read that last post, and can say that I'd lose my s*%t completely too, if someone gave those lame excuses. As a fellow cancer mom (and caringbridge watcher), I know the importance of bone marrow donations, so in 2006 I signed up for the Canadian registry. I thought nothing would ever happen, but sure enough, within a few months I was a match for someone!
Despite a couple of small "complications" which delayed my full recovery by a bit, let me tell you, it was sooo worth it. The other bummer is that the recipient's care center is really stingy on the info. I do know that as of the last (and only) update a couple of years ago,the recipient was engrafted and doing
"satisfactorily". And even though one day I'd love to have contact with my "marrow buddy", it is still extremely gratifying to know that someone is alive today who otherwise wouldn't be.
So good on ya, and keep on crusading.
Because of thyroid cancer, I cannot donate blood and am bummed out. Your blog about that was one of my favorites! Your post made such sense.
Love this SPT. Giving blood is a perfect way to gift a stranger. Due to my stay out of the country, I have not been allowd to give blood. Sad. :-(
All right, sister! I can't give blood right now, I'm anemic, thank you peri-menopause, but once I'm back on track, I'll be back donating again, too.
While I hated it that Marielle needed blood while getting her chemo for ALL, I loved the feeling I had knowing that I had given blood many times and some how this was right, karma wise.
I went back and read your blog posting about signing up for the bone marrow registry and laughed and wanted to cry at the same time. Thinking about all our kids went through (and we are the lucky ones) and that there are people who don't want a poke or to lose a few hours of their lives to SAVE A LIFE. Man, how many chances do you get in this lifetime to actually safe a life, that you can throw one away?
I used to donate all the time at the student health center when I was in college - paid time off from my on-campus job! But we lived in England for a year from 1996-1997 *and* I had a transfusion while we were there (miscarriage gone bad) so I'm forever banned from donating.
RSMDianne
What a great gift, and one that I love to give. But darn it, the past couple of times they've not let me give because my iron levels are too low (apparently, their standards are pretty high). I have a totally unrelated question: how do you get your pictures in your post to be larger? (like the one of Alisa and the one of Ree in the cooking post)? Do you change up something in the HTML? just wondering.. my biggest frustration with Blogger is that my pictures are so small. Thanks!
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