A daughters broken heart changes her view on giving blood

I was always terrified of needles. The thought of having my blood drawn at the doctor was enough to cause me to pass out. In Feb 2001 my life was forever changed when my dad told me he had lung cancer. I wasn't even 31 yet, I had 2 very young children, and my mom was already sick. The doctors said he had about 4 months to live. My dad - Duane wouldn't accept that. He fought cancer hard, head on. 49 chemo treatments, 32 radiation treatments on his chest. The cancer eventually spread to the brain and he had 16 rounds of radiation on it. Finally it was in his bones. He was weak and in of need blood, but because of a shortage he had to wait 3 days. I saw him really crash in those 3 very long days. I think if he had been able to get the blood sooner I would of had him longer. Maybe one more Christmas. I lost my dad Nov 2002. I decided then that no daughter should ever have to see her daddy go thru what mine did. That's why I started giving blood, and so did my husband. In Jan my daughter will be old enough and she will start also, and when my son turns 16 it will be his turn. We do this in honor of the man we lost way to early to a disease that's cruel and unforgiving.