This is Day 39 of my baby, Serenity, being diagnosed with and treated for Leukemia. Day 37 is here.
Serenity’s life was saved because people donated blood. I have a lot of guilt about that – I have MAJOR needle-phobia and have always avoided blood donation. But as I watched Serenity bravely face getting poked by needles over and over and over again (at one point, before she got her port, she had bandages on both her hands and arms and they were going to access her through her foot) I knew that was going to change forever. As the next week went by and she received several life-saving bags of blood and platelets, I knew that I was going to become a blood donor for life – and that I would advocate and encourage others to do so as well.
And so it begins – the quarterly Serenity Foundation Blood Drive. My good friend, Rachel Strate, is one of my heroes – she is an avid platelet and blood donor – and I’m counting on her and others to help put all this together. I’ve talked to ARUP (our local blood center) and there are some rules to doing a blood drive, one of them is that I have to get 35 people to commit to donating blood at the drive. Another is getting a location, but I can take care of that one. I’m thinking somewhere around Draper or Thanksgiving Point. We’ll do it towards the end of July and I’ll be announcing a date in the next couple days. I’d like to make this a Geek Dinner/Tweetup type of event with blood donating, blogging, tweeting and eating going on.
I’d also really like to make this more than a local thing. If you’re reading this and you would like to help out and organize a local blood drive to coincide with ours, PLEASE DO! Let me know and I’ll try to help publicize it. I think it would be a LOT of fun to have multiple blood drives going on all over the country at the same time and for us to all be blogging and tweeting pictures and updates at the same time!
This post is really a notification and call for volunteers. If you are willing to donate blood with us, please let me know. If you’re willing to organize a local drive, please let me know. We’ll get customized banners like the one above made for your drive and have ones that everyone can put on their blog if they want.
Blood is absolutely critical to saving little lives like that of my daughter and so many others. Every one of you have blood and thus the capacity to help save those lives. Please, Please join us in providing the elixir of life!
As a side note, I know that blood drives are nothing new and that many of you may already give blood regularly. I also know that according to ARUP, only 4% of those who are able to actually donate blood. This is a call to action for the other 96% – join me in becoming a willing donor!
The story of Serenity’s battle with Leukemia begins here.
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I wanna help! I’ve been meaning to give blood since my daughter had a transfusion last October, but haven’t gotten around to it (for shame!). How the heck does someone organize a blood drive though??? I guess I have some research to do!
I would like to share this on my blog. I was wondering if I could have permission to use the photo?
@Michele That would be awesome! It’s pretty easy actually, probably the most difficult part would be figuring out who your local mobile blood center is. I’m sure the local Red Cross could tell you. It would be really cool to have Chandler, AZ donating at the same time we are – let’s make it happen! I’m more than willing to do what i can to help you organize.
@Kimberlee you absolutely can use the photo – on Monday I plan to put some up that are more specific about the blood drive, and I’d be happy to customize one for you!
Love the poster and we’d love to give blood and support your efforts. We’ll just wait to hear when and how. Serenity looks beautiful. Janey (our six year-old) heard that Serenity would be losing her hair and decided to donate hers to locks of love in her honor. Thanks for keeping us updated. You are always in our prayers.
Noreen and Family
Adria probably knows the answer to this, but can a nursing mother donate blood?
You are all in my prayers daily – hugs!
seeing your child’s life depend on the gracious donation of blood changes everything about blood drives, doesn’t it! Our Mitchell had his complete blood supply changed out within 24 hours of birth – and needed lots more gifts of blood to survive. I will never take a simple donation of blood lightly again – it IS a gift of life. Your posting today brought me to tears (again) remembering how critical blood is. So glad Serenity is blessed with the blood she needs and praying that your blood drive is a huge success. Cathy
Hey Phil, I’m calling the local Red Cross tomorrow to see what I can come up with. I’ll check back to the date. 🙂 My husband has agreed to donate and I will as well – hopefully we can get a group on board.
Any ideas where I can find a list of disqualifications? I want to do it, but I think I might not be able to. If not, I’ll still come with food or drinks or something else to help everyone out…if that’s ok?
Hi Phil, I’m looking into what I could do in the Seattle area to set up a drive. I’ve never done this before. I’ve emailed our local blood center and am waiting to hear back from them. I had some questions for you regarding publicity stuff, but I don’t have an email address for you. Should I send them to Adria instead?
@Noreen What a sweet thing for Janey to do! Give her an extra hug from me
@Laura The Red Cross will accept nursing moms. Dr Jack Newman says a mother who is not anemic can donate. There is more info here, not everyone agrees on the subject.
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/blood.html
@StephanieS Yes, come no matter what! Here is a guideline for who is eligible to donate blood:
http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html
@KirstenP Email me and I’ll consult with Phil. 🙂
Thank you everyone for your interest!