Thank you to those you have registered to give blood. Between the phone calls to my Mom and online registration/registration through me, we are 1/5 of the way to our goal of
100 Donors!!!
Obviously there are still plenty of available spots and we would love to fill every single one of them. Please help us spread the word.
I have heard from two people now that the registration link has not worked for them. I am sorry...I looked into it today, but on my end things are correct, and unfortunately I am not computer savvy enough to do any further diagnostic tests! :) I am the "sponsor" and can therefore register everyone, through "my special link." It truly takes me about one to two minutes to register someone. So please ask me to do it!
You can email me at amgreener1214@hotmail.com
leave a comment here on the blog
or find me on facebook under April Greener and send me a message
You can also call my Mom at 1-435-854-3854 and she can register you on paper (then I'll put the info on the online register to keep it current).
The only information we need is a name and a phone number.
The Red Cross volunteer called me to check in the other day, and I asked him what our family could do to make this as successful as possible. He told me we should "really just make this about Scott" and for me, there could not have been a better answer.
I remember donating blood in high school. I can honestly say that at that time, I was young and naive enough to want to do it purely to "get out" (sorry, Mom) of a few minutes of class and for a quick social outing. I never once thought about it as "life saving" or who could benefit from this few minutes of giving on my end. I donated for me, without thought of others.
Luckily, over the years (I won't say how many :)) I have personally witnessed the life saving ability donated blood can give to someone.
(Pardon the drama-but this is a true story!)
A few years into my nursing career in labor and delivery, I watched my patient, a healthy first time Mom, bleed out in front of my eyes. We were giving her donated blood as quickly as she was losing it. I'll never forget the doctor looking at our team and saying "We're losing her." I don't think I have ever prayed so fervently while working so furiously to keep her alive. 26 units of blood later within a two hour time period, we had exhausted the hospitals supply of blood (the patients type anyway) and she finally started to improve.
The next time I worked 4-5 days later, I visited this patient in the ICU. I had to see her and have a tangible confirmation that she was going to be okay. Although exhausted, she smiled and told me how grateful she was to be alive. I saw her sweet babe, who had been brought up for a visit, in its bassinet next to her bed and wished I could convey to this new life how lucky she was to have her Momma.
After that, I donated blood every time I could. Was it uncomfortable? Yes, for a short moment. Was it convenient? No, hardly ever. Did I sometimes leave feeling a bit blah? You bet.
But I knew how important it was, and I desperately wanted to do it.
As time faded the horrible memories of that incident, I donated less and less, and I feel badly about that now. The last time I donated blood was November 2010 when we first moved into our new home. Our stake was having a blood drive, and I admittedly signed up as a way to "get involved and meet people" in our new neighborhood and again, forgot the reason behind this important service.
But as I was sitting there donating, my blood wasn't quit "flowing fast enough" and they were worried that I would not be able to complete the needed amount of blood within the specific time frame. At that time, I was willing the blood to get out of me and into that bag! :) I thought of Scott, who had just been told he needed a liver transplant and again I desperately wanted my "sacrifice" to be able to help someone.
I wish Scott did not have to endure what he has for me to once again remember the importance of donating blood. I have A+ blood, and know my blood won't go to Scott, but it doesn't matter...it WILL help someone. And as I learned from spending countless hours in the ICU waiting room, there is more tragedy and grief and heartache in the world than any of us can even imagine. Of course, I would love to donate blood specifically for my brother and feel like the life in me has improved his, but I am content knowing that someone out there, will benefit.
I think our family is lucky that so many people know Scott's story. That is evidenced by the love, service, and support you have all shown for our family. And like I have said so many times, but have to say again because of how true it is--we can never thank you enough or repay you. Please know how grateful we are, and please if you can donate blood.
This is for Scott.
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