Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Free For You, Worth Everything to Them

This Christmas, here's two relatively simple, FREE gifts you can give your fellow man:

1. Get registered in the bone marrow donor registry: http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/. There are many people who need a life-saving bone marrow transplant, but who don't have a match. Last month we heard about this sad story - an 11 year old girl with AML (leukemia), who passed away. She needed a bone marrow transplant and a perfect match couldn't be found. YOU could be someones match. It takes about five minutes to get signed up. Get registered and give someone hope! Our friend Rachel was able to find a donor, can you imagine if she was saved because of YOUR marrow? What an amazing gift for everyone involved!

2. Donate blood at your local Red Cross you can also go
HERE if you're not sure where that is. You can donate blood or platelets at American Red Cross. A single platelet donation can provide enough platelets for a full therapeutic dose for a patient in need. In fact, some platelet donations yield enough platelets for two or three therapeutic doses. By contrast, it takes about five whole blood donations to produce a single therapeutic dose. Many patients who need platelets are undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplant and have weakened immune systems. A platelet dose from a single donor reduces the patient’s exposure to multiple donors and is therefore preferred by many physicians. During a platelet donation, a small portion of your blood (less than one pint at a time), is drawn from your arm and passed through a sophisticated cell-separating machine. The machine collects the platelets and safely returns the remaining blood components, along with some saline, back to you. After the donation you can resume your normal activities, avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous exercise that day.

According to the American Red Cross: every two seconds, someone in the US needs blood.  Everyday Skyler gets at least one unit of platelets, plasma, or blood products, and sometimes even more.  There are also many of Skyler's cancer buddies that need these blood products too.  There's millions of other cases where people need blood also. It is life-saving. And it can be really scary watching your sick child and being told that there isn't the blood they need available.  I am so grateful to those who have donated and been apart of the process of  helping saving Skyler's life.

Some Facts About Blood Supply Needs and Blood Donation -from the American Red Cross
•One donation can save the lives of up to three people.
•The demand for blood transfusions is growing faster than donations.
•Shortages of all blood types usually occur during the summer and winter holidays.
•Less than 38% of the US population is eligible to donate blood. (So if you can, you can see that you're sorely needed!)
•It is possible to donate specifically only platelets or plasma. This process is called apherisis.
•Donated platelets must be used within 5 days of collection - new donations are constantly needed.
•Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma, and platelets. The body will replenish the elements given during a blood donation - some in a matter of hours, and others in a matter of weeks.
•The average adult has about 10 to 12 pints of blood in his body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.
•The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
•A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days.
•A healthy donor may donate platelets as few as 3 days apart, but a maximum of 24 times a year.

You must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good general health to donate. (Eligibility requirements may vary in some states and donation centers.)

Please, if you possibly can, get out and donate this holiday season. It's one of the best gifts you can give.

This Christmas, GIVE LIFE!

12 comments:

Ara said...

I love to give blood. I feel like my giving blood on a regular basis is my little bit of helping out. I'm sad that we are having a blood drive at work this week and I can't donate because I got a tattoo this year (In Utah, you have to wait 1 year after getting a tattoo to donate blood/plasma). I can't wait until that year is up and I can resume donating blood.

Anonymous said...

Can you donate blood or a bone marrow if you are under 18?

Kristie said...

I just signed up to donate! Can't wait to get my packet and get it sent back in! Keeping you and Skyler in my prayers! How is he doing? I check back often for updates! Hope he is doing better, thinking about him often!

Natalie Carver said...

Wow thank you for sharing this! My family and I will forsure do both of these! And I am adding this link to my blog so we can spread the word!

Hope you guys are doing well!

Padilla's said...

I just got registered to donate bone marrow and it was stories like that that made me do it.(it's super easy 4 swabs of the inside of your cheek) Also I am not sure if you have Facebook but you can "like" the national bone marrow donation site and I think it's a wonderful way to advertise it! I am also an LPN (RN in may) and I see people affected by this horrible disease all the time. Giving blood is simple and takes 30 minutes. I have seen peoples lives saved by people taking 30 minutes every 2-4 months to give blood. I am so glad you put this on your blog. I continue to pray for you and Sky.

Anonymous said...

I was told that you cant donate if you are under 18, but I went to that website and it said to get a parental permission slip to donate if you are under 18 but you still have to match the weight limit.

Jessica Smith said...

What a great post! You should also encourage people to donate to ARUP blood services. ARUP is the sole blood product for the university hospital, Primary Childrens, Huntsman Cancer hospital and Shriners Hosptial. Its great to donate there because you know its going to someone in your own community, and possibly someone special like Skyler

lindsay Roscoe said...

I am going to copy and paste this on my blog.

Anonymous said...

I've been thinking lately how much I wish I do something more for people especially during this holiday season, yet not really knowing what to do. Thank you for sharing this! I already signed up to donate bone marrow and am just waiting for my packet to come in the mail and am planning on going to donate blood tomorrow. I've been following your blog and I just want you to know that you guys are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. You amaze me!

Cami said...

This is a great reminder as something that we can always be doing. Talk about the gift that just keeps on giving! Great story about the morning show phone call! I do not know 2 people that are more deserving of so many countless gifts than you and Skyler...truly! I wish for you that the dr's could just know and tell you exactly what is going on and the plan of action to take care of it! I am sure that your faith must feel exhausted, but you are amazing and I know that you both will get through this! As always, I am praying for you both!!!

cjmom said...

Thanks Crystal, We feel so helpless and this gives something we can do. I also put this up on my facebook acct as something people can give at Christmas. Thanks for the idea/
You and your little one are in our prayers. Love Lula's sister-in-law, Cathy

Anonymous said...

I have donated platelets 2 times now and what a blessing it is to me. I cannot explain how great I feel when I walk in there and every one of the staff is so very friendly and appreciative of my coming. I know that this may be all I can do, but if it saves even one life, I am glad. the way I see is is... "unless there is something medically holding you back, GIVE!!!" I know there are reasons that some cannot give, but please, do so if you can.