Giving the best gift this Christmas

The Christmas season is upon us and with all the hustling and bustling that is done, blood storage levels greatly decrease.

On average, we spend more than 8 hours shopping for the perfect gift, countless hours cooking the family favorites, and even more hours decorating our homes. Just think, in that span of time, in just 1 hour, you could save 2 lives. What could be a better Christmas present than that? It won't be returned, it will be a perfect fit, it will be thought of each day forward on every day - that's a true gift of life.

I challenge you to take 1 hour of your time - away from shopping, away from baking, away from decorating, and save 2 lives. You will feel amazing knowing that you just made someone's Christmas a little brighter!

Just for a reminder - here are some of the criteria for donating - check your local donation centers for in-depth details:

The American Red Cross says to give blood for a transfusion for another person, a donor must be healthy, be at least 17 years old — 16 if allowed by state law — and weigh at least 110 pounds. A donor must also not have donated whole blood in the last eight weeks (or 56 days) or double red cells in the last 16 weeks (112 days). Students who donate at high school drives and donors younger than 19 must also meet height and weight requirements.

Have You Voted?

For a few months I have had a Donation Poll in the right-hand column of the blog, now some visitors have voted, but knowing the number of daily/monthly visitors, I know that many visitors have not voted.

I have noticed, however, that there are quite a few people out there that are unable to donate - or have never donated. To that I pose a question, what are the reasons you can't donate (assuming it's health or travel related) and why haven't you donated yet?

In the coming months I will offer suggestions to the new donors and perhaps insight for those that are unable to donate - but I do recommend that the best information on donation comes from the donation sites directly or your general physician.

If you haven't vote, take a moment to do so and if you have, thank you for taking the time. Learning more about those that visit the blog is just as important as learning more about donating.

Thankful for Their Service

I have enjoyed another opportunity to participate in a dinner service with the Armed Forces Foundation, this time at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. This was my first experience at this facility. What a wonderful display of appreciation, gratitude and humility.

The event's dinner was sponsored by Vanguard Management and The Bernstein Companies, as usual the AFF did a wonderful job and the wounded warriors along with their families were treated to a thanksgiving feast like no other. Turkey with all of the trimmings (all home made!) and desserts that made everyone's mouth water!

I have had quite a few opportunities to work with Joe (above) and his team at AFF, and I am glad to say that I will continue in these efforts. These warriors for our freedom fight each day, now it's just a new battle - for their life. Many would go back and do things again, their spirit is remarkable. I am also reminded that during each of their surgeries, they may have needed one of the many blood donors that I hope to connect with - it's a circle of life - in every way.

I learned the story of Garth (left), wounded and at the hospital for 3 months now - and the stories of many others. There was even a Marine present who just graduated at Parris Island the day before - young and willing to stand for our freedom.

This Thanksgiving, I say thank you to those that serve, that have served and will in the future. It is because of them we continue to have these holidays and without them, I'm not quite sure where we would be.

The Yankees Win & Baseball Cards are Traded!

It's a HOMERUN!!

Well that got your attention didn't it?!? Yes, baseball fans as if you didn't know the Yankees did win the World Series this week, and yes, numerous baseball cards are still traded.


Now, how about trading a new type of baseball card? When donors arrive to give blood, they have an opportunity to learn about those that they help with the aid of receipient trading cards! That's right, "baseball cards" for survivors! The Mid-Atlantic Blood Services Region (American Red Cross) has been distributing these wonderful cards to say thank you to donors and connect them to those they help and I am honored to be a part of this effort!

Saying Thank You to Donors

November brings us closer to the turn of the new year, but also brings us a time of Thanksgiving.

In this holiday season of giving thanks, many of our area donors continue to give selflessly of themselves. As a way to say thank you for their efforts, the Blood Bank of Delmarva will be sending out thousands of Thanksgiving Cards. I am blessed and honored to have the opportunity to say thank you to those very donors through this campaign. When the BBD asked if they could include my story in the campaign, I was excited, and then when I saw the card, I was elated, humbled and proud to not only share my gratitude but that it may just encourage more individuals to donate.


Most of the time, donors do not have contact with the lives that they save, by providing a tangible "Thank You" donors can certainly see the difference that they make and can be empowered to donate again.

I have included the Card for you, the team at the Blood Bank of Delmarva truly outdid themselves and it looks wonderful and the messege is clear - Thank you for donating and saving my life!