"Thx for saving my life!" -

Have you ever thought that you may one day need a blood transfusion? Have you ever thought about where–actually who– that blood might come from? You never know when you or a loved one will need blood. Most people don’t think they will ever be in the situation of needing blood, even though 14 million Americans receive a blood transfusion each year.

The message below was sent to the American Red Cross National Headquarters by a blood recipient in Oregon. It is a thank you letter to blood donors and American Red Cross staff for giving their time and blood to help save others’ lives. I hope it reminds donors and staff that all the hard work they do to get blood to patients really is having a positive impact on the community. I also hope that it motivates people reading this who may not donate blood to go out and do it.

Subject: “Thx for saving my life!”

Thank You Red Cross…

I appreciate everything you do! But even more recently when I needed a blood donor and my life depended on it after emergency surgery. I’m a 23 year old, female senior in college with a year left in college to go and everything going for her. And because of a donor who probably donated to you, I’ll live to see my college graduation. Never in my life did I ever think I’d be the one who needed the blood and never in my life did I ever think that my years of trying to give blood meant anything til now. Now it’s all too real…and it’s all because someone decided to take an hour from their day and make a donation. THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE!!!! And I cannot express to you how thankful I am for my donor’s blood.

Photo: Rose and Ron Trullinger (my devoted blood donor parents)–my dad helping to save more lives through Double Red Cell Donation.

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