Right. Blood. It should always be available and accessible to those who need it, and surely not later, when it becomes too late. And to accomplish this, we must all go out and donate.
With the holidays coming around the corner, blood will certainly be needed even more.
The Blood Bank of Hawaii drive was just here. Although they somewhat met their quota, and with the 71,100 people living on this beautiful island of Kauai, the blood bank’s expectations and hopes for a larger amount of donations were not met but were anticipated.
Blood donation is a reality and a certainty that it will help those who are strickened with cancer, for accidents and trauma patients, for those needing transfusions for blood diseases, and for those who would need it for whatever the reasons may be.
I am sure that everyone knows that blood cannot be manufactured, but could only be available by a person’s desire to help the other through donations. To believe and to think the other person will give, and therefore, I don’t have to give, is really a selfish and an unacceptable way of thinking and not the mentality of a reasonable and a concerned person.
Why wait until something drastic happens before deciding to give then? The blood you were contemplated to give, but did not, could and would have been the one that would have been used to probably saved someone dear to you, someone you loved and someone you cared for.
Think about it. If this happened to a member of your family, and because you’ve hesitated so many times to give, it could be a regrettable situation and could and would be too late and perhaps, too sad and too costly. Do it now while the timing is great.
I have heard people telling me why they can’t and won’t donate, which I found them to be rather silly and ridiculous. They are afraid of the needle, they work, don’t have the time, and a lot of other unacceptable reasons. The needle? I found that the small, skinny needle used for the flu shot is sorer than the big needle used to draw the blood.
Work? I do too, and yet, I still find the time and day to schedule an appointment to give blood. If you have the time to rush to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes, which you shouldn’t do, or for coffee, pastry, or whatevers, you certainly have the time to go to the blood drive that comes to Kauai every two months.
Excuses? Phooey! That’s hogwash! One day, you will really need it, or someone close will need it. Believe me.
How long does it take to donate just a pint of blood? From the onset of history taking and until you are done, it takes only an hour. Just an hour!! How bad is that?
When you give, believe me, you’ll feel really good afterwards, because you realized that what you just did saved three lives. Three lives, imagine that? It could mean life and death for one of your members.
And to think,you’ll be able to sit down after donating and have a snack to eat while making your next appointment for the next blood drive.
I don’t work for the Blood Bank of Hawaii, but I know that as long as I am healthy and is capable of giving blood, I give. I know my body will always replenish and replace the pint that was drawn so I can give again in the next two months. I know for a fact that people will always need it, and so why not just give. An advocate for the BBH? No. Just knowing the importance of blood, I give. And why not?
I do not want to brag, oh, I take that back. I do want to brag that at this writing, I have already donated over 201 pints of blood, the equivalent of 25 gallons and one pint. It’s not that I wished to brag, because there are so many others who are Super, Century, and those working toward becoming Super Donors that makes giving a worthwhile thing.
It is to me an honor that the BBH wants and can use my blood for those who need it. Ask the Leslie Newell, the Habbards, the Contrades and the many more Super donors how they feel about donating and why they give. Imagine how much more people could be saved if more blood were made available. Life would be much more easy.
The Blood Bank of Hawaii’s next drive will in Dec. 4, 5, and 6. So what’s my point and why am I talking about it now? Simple. It is my plea to you so you could plan your day and call 1-800-372-9966 and donate. Don’t wait till the last minute to decide to give then. It could be too late and too bad. So how’s about it? Give, and tell yourself you’re doing it for a cause, or, would you rather just let the other person do it for you?
Really, this is my hope to all of you to help those who really could use and are in need for this wonderful thing they call the gift of life, blood.
What a wonderful Christmas present this would be for a lot of people.
I know it’s really too early, but have a safe and Merry Christmas and a perfect and healthy New Year. God Bless.
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Ray Domingo is a resident of Hanamaulu.
