Somebody in the US wants blood each 2 seconds. Heather, who lives in Dallas, Texas, has wanted many blood transfusions to deal with sickle cell illness. This illness, which impacts greater than 100,000 folks nationally, could cause ache and different severe problems. Typically Heather needed to wait a very long time for the fitting blood. As soon as, she even got here near dying when it took greater than 48 hours to get the blood she wanted.
Heather’s story is featured within the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers marketing campaign that I helped launch final 12 months referred to as Giving = Dwelling. The marketing campaign raises consciousness concerning the significance of blood donation and encourages Individuals to donate often. Watch Heather inform her story and thank the blood donors who gave her, as she says, new life.
Blood transfusions don’t simply assist deal with sickle cell illness. Blood can be wanted for surgical procedures, severe accidents, most cancers remedies, childbirth, extreme anemia, and extra. And that’s why a gradual, ongoing provide of blood is essential.
Earl, a veteran and motivational speaker from Pennsylvania, additionally shares his story of receiving blood after he was wounded whereas serving in Afghanistan.
Though all Individuals are inspired to donate, it’s particularly essential for folks from various backgrounds to roll up their sleeves. It is because some folks have uncommon blood varieties, and you will need to have suitable blood obtainable to them.
As well as, individuals who get blood transfusions to deal with sure blood issues, corresponding to sickle cell illness, can want a extra exact match than different blood recipients. In these circumstances, the extra intently matched a unit of blood is, the much less seemingly it’s that a person can have an hostile response. Having a big, various pool of blood donors ensures that each one sufferers can have entry to the blood they want, after they want it.
There isn’t any substitute for blood, so in honor of Nationwide Blood Donor Month this January, I hope you’ll be a part of me in spreading the phrase concerning the significance of blood donation. Only one donation can save as much as three lives. The easy, beneficiant act of giving blood helps sufferers like Heather and Earl get the blood transfusions they want.
If you’re eligible to donate blood, then I encourage you to make an appointment to donate at the moment—then donate many times to make sure there’s a regular, ongoing provide to assist these in want. Go to the Giving = Dwelling web site to discover a donation heart close to you. On this web site it’s also possible to study concerning the blood donation course of and get solutions to widespread questions and issues.
If you’re not eligible to donate blood, then there are nonetheless some ways to assist. You possibly can assist us discover extra blood donor heroes by selling the marketing campaign. From internet hosting a blood drive to sharing marketing campaign supplies in your social media feed or in your group, there are numerous methods we are able to all be concerned. Let’s have a good time the lifesaving act of giving blood. The extra donors there are, the extra lives we are able to save.
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