The first time I ever gave blood was when the Oklahoma Blood Institute came to my high school and my mother made me do the “right thing” and give blood. After that I have given blood at every opportunity I can find since I am a B negative and my blood type is needed by other people. Giving blood has changed my life in several ways I now know that I am needed, helpful and can always give something because I know that there are people who would do the same for me.
I am now giving blood at every opportunity that I can. Any time I hear about a local blood drive I immediately jump at the chance to help somebody survive. Since my blood type is B negative and only two percent of people have that blood type the doctors and nurses are happy to take what I can give. Knowing this is one of the greatest factors that have had a positive impact on my life. Knowing that my blood is rare and always needed means that every time I give some someone will defiantly need it.
The other great factor that has changed my life about giving blood is that my grandmother has von Willebrand Disease as well as several forms of cancer. Von Willebrand Disease prevents the clotting of the blood and since she has cancer she must have constant surgeries to keep it under control. Because of her von Willebrand Disease every time she has surgery for her cancer she has to have a blood transfusion because her blood will not clot. The blood she constantly receives and keeps her alive is donated by other people doing the same thing I am doing, donating blood. By donating blood I am helping other people like my grandmother and other people are helping her. I know that there are innumerable other people who suffer from disease and illnesses like my grandmother so if by giving blood I can help anyone of those others than I will be passing on the gift that someone else has given me. This is how giving blood has changed my life other people have given and helped my grandmother to stay alive and every time I give I am doing the same for someone else. So not only has other people giving blood changed my life when I give blood I know that I am changing someone else’s life as well.
These are the biggest ways giving blood has had a positive impact on not only my life by other lives as well. I know that the Oklahoma Blood institute is doing great things to help save lives and I am proud to be a part of that process by contributing any way I can. By giving blood I know I have changed someone else’s life for the better and that someday if I need that same help some in my position will save my life as well. This knowledge is how giving blood has had a positive impact on my life.