VDOT Saves Lives

That's right, Virginia's Department of Transportation saves lives - through blood donation!

After attending the Hazzard Homecoming, William Molitor connected me to Elizabeth Stewart at VDOT, who was going to be hosting a blood drive within the week. As always, I was eager to attend and was so shocked when I arrived that they had signs greeting everyone and balloons to celebrate such a wonderful day.

The donors were streaming through the door beginning at 7:30am and didn't stop until the end of the event at noon. This was my first event with INOVA Blood Donor Services and I am happy to say it will NOT be my last (look for those details coming up later this week).

As I wind down my reign, the appearances seem to be coming in faster than ever before. In the next week you will find me in Kill Devil Hills, NC; Richmond, VA; DC; and MD - and that is just in the next 7 days.

Enjoy a few photos from the event and I hope to see you on the road donating soon!

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All Shook Up

On Tuesday, August 23, I started the day like any other and prepared myself for the Gore Meats/Winchester Exchange Club Blood Drive like planned. I had a busy morning before ever heading out the door but when I arrived in Winchester, I said my hellos and found my place to be a greeter.

I love to greet donors when they arrive at a drive, I get to say thank you before they ever get started. It's important for them to know why they are my hero and I take every opportunity to tell them. Nearly 40 minutes into the drive, I had just completed the first prize drawing for the cooler of meat from Gore Meats (which, BTW, was a fantastic giveaway - super yummy!) and went on air with 95.3 The River when we started to get the reports of an earthquake in Central Virginia.

I didn't feel anything when I was outside, but donors reported that they could feel the tables moving along with the large hanging lights in the gym that was serving as our donor site at the Youth Development Center. I was immediately alarmed when I learned that the epicenter was in Mineral, VA - just 34 miles from my home in Culpeper.

Phone lines were busy and I wasn't able to get through to find out how things were in Culpeper. I stayed at the blood drive for another 45 minutes but that nagging feeling in the pit of any mom's stomach took over and I needed to excuse myself to return home.

Upon arrival into town, I could see that trees were down on power-lines, the Target had been closed, and all of our downtown area was roped off with many buildings receiving severe damage. Old town is full of picturesque streets straight from Mayberry - beautiful architecture, small boutiques, and lovely little restaurants. Even today, most of downtown is still closed and several business locations have been condemned and will not re-open. The schools were closed for Wednesday, which was to have been the first day of school. Our neighboring county, Louisa, home of the epicenter of the earthquake, received a great deal of damage and the schools will not be reopening until Sept 6 but the high school may or may not reopen as the damage is very severe. Louisa has only 1 high school so this presents a whole host of issues.

During a walk into old town last night, I was asked to interview with my friends from WTVR-6, alas it wasn't in sash/crown, but just as a resident that was assessing the damages and being thankful that it wasn't worse.

I am always grateful for the opportunity to thank blood donors, on this day, however, I was even more grateful. Even last night, when I was awakened by another aftershock, I was grateful. Now, as I look towards the weekend, I see that Hurricane Irene is making herself known and bearing down on my parents' home in North Carolina - the projected path has them directly in her path, at her worst. This won't be the first hurricane that has come this direction, certainly won't be the last, I only hope and pray that this won't be "the one" that changes what is.

Lexi was frightened and our cats, well, they are skiddish and slept right near me last night. I can say that I am slightly on edge today as little aftershocks take place. This week has been "All Shook Up" from one end to the next - I just ask that we say prayers for those recovering from yesterday and bracing for Irene. This week will test my strength, but my faith will carry me through.

Baseballs, Birthdays, and Babies

This past week has been one of the most hectic since being crowned Mrs. Virginia International last October. I started the week in Richmond and finished up the week in Norfolk with a few trips to Winchester, Woodstock, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and back to Richmond in between. That's right, in one week, I covered most of the Southeast/Central/Northwest parts of Virginia and it will continue for the next three weeks.

While busy, the week was fun and I truly enjoyed my birthday like never before. On Sunday the 21st, I celebrated my 29th birthday (again) but it was special because it was a joint "party" with my PaPa who turns 90 on the 25th. 90 years can you believe it? He still lives by himself, drives, and never misses church on Sunday. Followed by a great family gathering we all went over to the Norfolk Tides baseball game where Jessica, Miss Pre-Teen VA International and I were throwing out the first pitch.

To top off the birthday, a new little cousin was welcomed to the family. I now share my birthday with the precious Alex Colby - I have to say, this had to be the best birthday ever for me!

Thank you to my family for helping me celebrate and thank you to all of the blood donors and coordinators I met along my 1,800 mile journey this week - I would do it all again just to see more lives saved and to enjoy a great day with family.

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Are "U Negative"?

Did you know that there is a blood type "U Negative"? It's true, BUT it is one the RAREST blood type in existence and only occurs in African Americans typically of South Africa or Caribbean descent.

Conversely, only Caucasians have the blood types Vel negative and Lan negative, . There are records of people having a blood type that exists only in a remote village or in one family.

A patient needing U negative blood, can only receive from another U negative, so the problem with availability is obvious. U negative can also be given to anybody who is B-positive (this is his main blood group), but is especially valuable for people who need regular blood transfusions, such as people with hemophilia or sickle cell anaemia.

This is because people who have regular blood transfusions, like me, can develop a serious reaction to certain parts of donor blood cells, called antigens. Many develop a reaction to one or more of the common antigens that most people have in their blood. A U-negative donor's blood does not have the common U antigen, and can be given without the risk of reaction.

When any blood is received at a donor center it has to be typed and if it is found to be rare, it will go through additional testing to determine how rare and if it's considered rare enough, rather than standard storage, it will be frozen for future use (unless needed immediately). Once it's frozen, it can be stored up to 10 years, however, once thawed it must be used within 24 hours.

U negative donors are so rare that they have even been flown to other countries in order to provide a donation to someone in immediate need.

So if you just learned about U Negative blood for the first time, don't worry, there will be lots of time to learn about the other blood groups too: JS(b), Cr(a), At(a), Rh17, Jk(b), Fy(a), Fy(b). Of those, Rh17 is the rarest and most are found amongst the African American community.

And don't worry, if you didn't know these rare types existed, I didn't either until yesterday and a behind-the-scenes tour of a blood donor center!

Queen of Hazzard Nation!

Being Mrs. Virginia International has been so much fun and very rewarding, but this past week, had to be one of the highlights of my reign that I will likely never forget.

Growing up, like many of you, I watched the Dukes of Hazzard and could just see Bo & Luke Duke speeding up my street to pick me up and my dad praying like never before that I didn't run away with them. Ahhhhhh the memories of childhood crushes!

I was invited to attend the event my William Molitor with Operation Homefront. This organization, along with Operation First Response, work tirelessly to aid our freedom-fighting warriors and/or their families. They ensure that they know they are not forgotten and their voice is important. Bill and his family were there with me all day along with Wendy and Skye - what a wonderful group of caring individuals. Spending the time with them made the day even more special because I know that I walked away with new friends.

Now, I live in the country and am becoming very accustomed to country life, which means for most of my appearances, I am traveling great distances or spend the night at a lot of them. This time though, the "Hazzard Homecoming" was in Sperryville, which is just 15 miles from home. I was ecstatic just for that fact, then I learned I would be able to meet the cast of the Dukes of Hazzard. Can you say unbelievable?!?

The event ran for two days - I could only attend on Saturday. My little girl heart was broken that neither Bo or Luke would be there on that day but I did get to meet Daisy, Cooter, Roscoe, Enos and Cletus. I was a happy girl for sure!

I enjoyed the day being the only "Queen of Hazzard Nation" but also helping many in attendance sign postcards for those serving in our military, taking photographs with lots of little princesses, riding in a General Lee, and of course, meeting the cast. Enjoy a few photos of the day and check out the websites for Operation Homefront & Operation First Response - your help with these organizations is greatly appreciated!

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Blood Drive: Mended Little Hearts

Last week I received an invitation from Mrs. Winchester International 2012 to join her at a blood drive benefiting Mended Little Hearts.

Mended Little Hearts, a support program for parents of children with heart defects and heart disease, is dedicated to inspiring hope in those who care for the littlest heart patients of all. Mended Little Hearts offers resources and a caring support network as families find answers and move forward to find healing and hope.

Of course I jumped at the opportunity because I know how important blood donors are to those children. Not to mention, anytime a local titleholder invites to attend one of their functions, I enjoy getting to know them more and seeing their passion for their own platform. It so happens that blood donation is not Mrs. Winchester's platform, but I am very glad that she wanted to take part in her community event.

Before attending the event, I had been battling a very stiff back/neck all morning, likely a result of taking a spill down the stairs a few days before. Without too many details, I will just say it involved a full arm-load, a swift little cat, and 12 stairs. Needless to say, the only accommodation I asked for was when the Channel 3 TV crew arrived, I needed to shoot from my right because there was no way I was going to be able look left. All in a days work, right?

In the end it was another opportunity to reach out to another Virginia community about the critical need for donors and to impress on them that the need knows no boundaries, no race, no gender, no religion and certainly has no end in sight.

Here are a few photos from my visit along with a quick stop at the Miss Harrisonburg USA pageant and at Miss Lizzie's to say thank you for helping me look my best at nationals!

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Beginning of the End

It's ALMOST the end of summer, and on to the "dreaded" BACK TO SCHOOL days.

The late spring brought the rise in our awareness that the summer would have fewer donors, the beginning of summer proved to be strong but the middle things just wained. Now, we are at the beginning of the end of summer and the amount of donors nationwide and around the world are severe. The fact that a patient needs a transfusion every 2 seconds hasn't changed; the fact that the rarest blood type is the type that isn't on the shelf; and the fact that people are forgetting the need is apparent.

When are you looking at the latest back to school ads, scooping up the last of the summer savings, or are trying to get one more beach trip in, remember that there are people in your community that need you to save their life.

Before you end this summer and start the busy school/fall schedule, stop, take a moment to save 3 lives and I promise, you will know that you had the best summer ever.

The need is constant and never takes a vacation.

ALOHA Donors!

Just one day after returning from nationals, I was not only excited that my laundry was almost done, but that I was going to be back on the road sharing my story with a wonderful group of volunteers.

Several months ago, Marley at Virginia Blood Services asked if I would be available to attend an appreciation luncheon with the Henrico County Blood Program volunteers/coordinators. Each year they are in competition with Chesterfield County employees to donate the most blood, well for the 8th year in a row, the HCBP received the most donors. Since it's inception, the program itself has saved over 33,655 lives, how could I not attend to say thank you to such a thoughtful and lifesaving group of individuals.

The festive Luau Luncheon was incredible - I heard from the coordinators and even had the opportunity to take a photo with each person in attendance - in our fun luau attire! Best part of the luncheon, I was able to bring Lexi along and she was able to experience the gratitude of many for what others consider a small gift. The gift of life is never small but always humbling.

Henrico County is celebrating 400 years of history this year and it was great to see what they are doing to celebrate. As a gesture of appreciation, I was presented with a beautiful commemorative pin that I will now proudly wear on my sash as I continue to travel across the state.