on donating blood

Dear Chicken Nugget,

Today I went to the NY Blood Center to donate blood.  It's something I started doing about three years ago, two to four times a year, to help out our local blood banks.  In a city of about 8 million people, something like 60% are eligible to donate blood but only less than 5% actually do so.  That means that in a city of 8 million people full of illness, accidents, and surgeries, there's almost always a shortage of blood.

I tell you this because I feel it's our duty as healthy adults to do what we can to help others in need.  I hope that, when you get older and meet the eligibility requirements for donors, you help people by giving some blood.

I have seen family members who were sick and needed blood transfusions.  I saw them get blood and watched them feel better, if even for just a little bit.  When you give blood you may be helping a cancer patient who needs a blood transfusion to help them feel better.  You may be helping someone in a traumatic car accident who needs an emergency transfusion.  You may be helping babies that were born prematurely and need transfusions to help them gain strength.

Or, you may be helping someone like your great grandfather Bolivar, who at the age of 98 was very ill, fatigued, and confused.  The doctors told us that they were going to give him some blood to help a low red blood cell count.  The way my mom describes it, it's as if they gave him the blood of a young bull.  Within minutes he was up, trying to walk out of bed, telling jokes, and asking for food; he was hungry.

Although, the blood transfusion didn't "cure" my grandpa, it helped him feel better.  And, it gave my family a few more waking, lucid moments with grandpa.

God-willing you will grow up to be a healthy young adult and will be willing to endure a couple of pinches so that you can help others in need.  My hope is that there are others who will do the same.


Loving you, always,

Tu papa