The reason why I’ll continue to give….

Posted by Sammy on Sep 14th, 2009 | no comments

You might remember that back in July I felt this overwhelming need to do something. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it had to be something GOOD. Well we just so happened to have been at the NIH where Gary was undergoing his brain surgery for his Ommaya and I happened upon a booth right in front of the caferteria for the blood bank. There I learned that my blood type, A -, is not as common as I had thought. At that moment I knew what I had to do. I gave blood!

None of that really hit home until Gary needed blood himself. To think that someone just like me sat in a chair for about 15 minutes to give their blood to help Gary! Well I told Gary that I was going to make this a regular thing because quite honestly, why not! I’ll just make more of it. Giving blood these days is relatively safe and if I can save someone else’s life that’s really the least I can do. You apparently can only donate every 2 months and my 2 month mark has already passed, but I’ve already decided that I will once again give blood next week to commemorate the END of 6 cycles of chemotherapy.

I want to make this a regular thing for as long as I can give it. And more so because this past weekend Gary needed another blood transfusion. It was 3 units of blood, which means that it came from 3 different people (more than likely). Who knows what would have happened to him had he not gotten that blood! I’m extremely thankful to the 3 individuals that gave up their blood and sat in that chair, and probably was a tad lightheaded afterwards, all to help save a person that they do not know. And for this, I will continue to give my blood. It’s the least I can do to say thanks to those individuals and help others that need it the most.

I gave blood!!

Posted by Sammy on Jul 8th, 2009 | one comment

I had a nice breakfast this morning, waited for the docs to do their rounds and then around 10am I decided it was now or never. So I walked downstairs and made my way to the NIH blood bank. I filled out some paperwork and they were on the ball. Within minutes I was in front of a computer answering all kinds of questions to see if I was eligible. Once I was done I had a nurse come in to get me. She tested my blood to check if I was anemic, which I wasn’t. Took my blood pressure and temp, which were both fine, and then we headed to my chair. I had no problems at all watching her stick me. The giving blood part took maybe 10 minutes at most. Then I had to wait around for another 10 minutes to make sure I wasn’t going to pass out or anything. Once those 10 minutes were up I grabbed some juice and cookies and went back upstairs to Gary.

I’m quite impressed because I have NO bruise either. It’s a little sore because the needle they used was HUGE. But no freaking bruise which is awesome.

So there is my good deed for the day, month, year, whatever! Hopefully my blood goes to save someone’s life.

It’s the Little Things

Posted by Sammy on Jul 7th, 2009 | 2 comments

Before we came up to DC for round #2 I had already told Gary that I just felt this overwhelming urge to do something with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I don’t know what yet, but something. Whether its to take part in fundraising activities or who knows what else, but just something. Lymphoma and just cancer in general is just NASTY. NO one should ever have to go through it and if we could just do something to get that much closer to a cure it would be just such a wonderful thing.

During this past week especially with the talks of bone marrow transplants and all I immediately knew that when the time comes I plan on asking what it takes to be a possible match. I have no idea if its blood type specific or not. I assume to see if I’d be a match I’d have to have a bone marrow biopsy and I’d hate to do that if my A- blood type would be rejected because he’s A+. But I just feel this overwhelming need to at least be tested. Can you imagine if I’m a match????

Then it got me thinking. I’ve always been reluctant to donate blood. I have no idea why because I’m not afraid of needles, anymore. I watch when I get pricked and I’ve watched Gary be pricked over and over too and it doesn’t even phase me. Today while walking by the NIH cafeteria they had a blood bank booth and they had a sign showing the different blood types and which types you can help out with your type and how many people in the US have YOUR type. Well I’m A- and I learned today that only 6% of people in the US have MY blood type. I had NO freaking idea it was THAT low. Now more than ever do I feel that overwhelming need to help. So tomorrow morning, sometime after I eat breakfast and after the doctors do their rounds I plan on heading down to the NIH blood bank and I plan on donating my A- blood. I’d like to make it a regular thing too, given that it goes well tomorrow.

So its the little things like this where I’m hoping by giving just a little bit of my blood I can help someone else in need. Shoot, these people here are helping to save my wonderful husband’s life, the least I can do is give them some of my blood in hopes that they can save someone else!