The Gift of Life
As I climbed into a bloodmobile to donate a pint of blood, I looked around to see what was going on. Here’s what I saw: everyone there was either about to be stuck with a large needle, in the process of being stuck, having blood withdrawn or having a needle removed from their arm. To someone who has never donated blood, this may sound like a very stressful, agonizing and gruesome scene. In reality, the atmosphere was warm and lively; everyone was smiling, and the conversations were upbeat. These people were truly happy to be doing what they were doing even though it involved a little pain. Why? Because they all knew they were doing something that was going to make an important difference in another person’s life and they felt very good about it. The lesson here is that the act of giving really does bring out the best that’s in us and, on top of that, it makes us feel great!
Re Giving blood.
In March 191965, at age 21, and as a private in the Army at Ft Eustis, VA, I volunteered to donate a pint of blood, my first ever, in order to get a weekend pass.
On the following Monday morning our First Sergeant asked that those who had given blood step forward, and then told us that we had saved our first life. Our blood had been use to transfuse a newborn “blue baby” right on the post.
That made an impression on me and since that first experience I have given something over 100 pints of blood to Red Cross, local blood banks, and hospital blood drives. Every time I give blood I think back to that first time…
George Williams
Raleigh, NC
PS That first donation also included a ticket to a Saturday night nightclub show in Newport News, Va. The show was a rising star performer, James Brown…
Hi George,
I made my first donation while in the Army as well. I don’t have any first-hand stories of any life I saved, but I really enjoy being able to donate. Thanks for sharing and I hope all is well.
All the best to you,
Ross