Donor Stories

My husband and I have always donated blood and our children were always aware of it. When our eldest turned 16, she began donating at school and when the next one turned 16 she started donating too. We have started donating as a family and make a point of going to my sons' elementary school and donating when they are sponsoring a blood drive. He has won an award 2 yrs in a row for having the most people sign in under his name.

I have a friend who donated blood at a high school blood drive. I could sense the good feeling of donating blood in her and it inspired me to become a blood donor. My chance came when a blood drive came to Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, NC. I was 17 when I did this and it was my first time so I was a little nervous. I found out that it wasnt so bad, the needle hurt a little but I was ok. I felt like a hero when I left the hospital, I knew deep down that I had helped save some lives. I'm also familiar with the founder, Clara Barton. If she was here right now, I believe she would be so proud. I'm 18 years old now and I will be donating blood again on 3-12-2010 at Southwestern Community College's blood drive. I will be donating blood for as long as I can. American Red Cross has given many U.S. Citizens like me a chance to become a hero. THANK YOU!!!

A few years ago, I donated blood for the first time. I was still a youth in college. Although I claimed not to be nervous, my brain said that I was. My pulse jumped when I was getting my finger pricked for an iron check. Then, anticipation grew as I laid down on the table, and a nurse marked my vein with a sharp purple marker. Both this and the finger prick were a preview of what was about to happen. Finally, a nurse showed me a 5-inch needle and apologized for the sharp pinch awaiting me. When she stuck me with the needle, I felt a cold prick followed by waves of moderate pain, leading to a series of tingling and throbbing sensations. A normal injection is like a 3 on the 1-10 pain scale, but this was more like a 5 or 6, since the donor’s arm is completely erect with a tourniquet wrapping the upper arm. After the donation was complete she pulled the needle out, and that hurt almost as much as the initial insertion. Within the10 minute process, my blood sugar levels and blood pressure plummeted, and I burned about 650 calories. In addition to saving lives, blood donation is a cleansing process in general; my other incentive to donate. It was an interesting coincidence that the nurse and I had the same A- blood type.

When I was in college, my future brother-in-law was involved in a serious motorcycle accident and ultimately ended up losing part of one leg (but not his life!) He used 127 units of blood. I got a few friends together to donate to his account. On the first day I was able to donate again, I checked his account - and it was entirely paid back - 127 people had donated in his name.
That made me realize how powerful donations were and I have looked for opportunities to donate since that time. I am currently close to completing my 8th "gallon."

In early spring of 2007 three schoolmates (my boyfriend of four years, my best friend, and my little brother's best friend) were involved in a fatal car accident. The impact instantly claimed the lives to two, but my boyfriend was still alive when the ambulance arrived. He didn't hang on for long, but I just keep thinking that if he would have made it, I'm sure he would've needed a blood transfusion or something like that. Donating blood is a very emotional process for me because every time I do it, I think about them. Giving blood is such a small price to save lives. I haven't been able to donate every time I have tried due to my iron levels, but I won't be discouraged. I urge everyone to give blood every chance they possibly can. One day it might be your closest loved one who needs it. Don't take the chance.