Bloody Urgent
"I was clueless about just how many lives were dependent on something that can be so easily provided. Now I have a clue."
When I was younger, more than one nurse had to jab my veins multiple times to tap my blood. I almost passed out on one occasion due to the continuous smell of alcohol as they kept pricking. Poor baby.
I guess my veins have become more accessible over the years — that or the Vitalant blood-drawers are just that good at pulling a pint out of you. I barely even knew my donation was happening this morning. Just a pleasant conversation with Cassandra — who loves her job at Vitalant’s beautiful new center in Scottsdale.
I first gave blood four months ago, basically because I needed to find out my blood type and report it to an old friend who needs a kidney. It turns out that a member of his family is a match, and hopefully he’ll get the transplant in the next few months.
Until that first experience, I was clueless as to just how urgently blood donations are needed. In America, about 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day. Each year, 16 million “blood components” are transfused. Not to go into the weeds, but on the giving end, that means that one person’s donation can be broken down and impact or save a whole lot of lives.
The moment I became less clueless was when Vitalant followed up with me after my first donation and emphatically urged me not only to do it again — but to up the gift. Then I went down the rabbit hole and learned some stuff.
I had given “whole blood” the first time, but a great many cancer patients (more than 2 million new ones each year) need “platelets” for live-saving treatments. This kind of blood component has a shelf life of only five days — so they always need more.
The challenge is that only 3 percent of age eligible people donate blood each year. Not enough. And if any of us were the ones who needed those units, we wouldn’t be very happy with that stat.
I’ll step off the soapbox now. Just a little information for anyone like me who never knew the details. Now I’m part of the 3._ percent. If you want to join us and jack that number up, Vitalant has 115 centers nationwide, and the Red Cross can steer you to a whole lot more.
There are so many ways we can help the folks who need it. This one takes zero effort and very little time.
MICHAEL GOLDEN is the cofounder of One Million Degrees, a national award-winning journalist and bestselling author. The Golden Mean is where he works to convert ‘hidden lessons’ into active wisdom.
