At one point in my life I thought about pursuing a career in nursing. When I thought about becoming a nurse I was around sixteen years old. Once I turned sixteen I began donating blood at the blood drives held at my school. I also would encourage my friends, family, and family friends to donate their blood for others to survive when in need of blood. I had been very aware of the importance of donating blood long before I could donate myself. In 2011, a leader I looked up to in my school community Tyler Zander was in a tragic life or death accident. Tyler was working at a grain elevator in the summer when his co-worker’s leg got caught in a grain auger. Tyler’s immediate instinct was to help him. While doing so Tyler got his leg caught too. Tyler was in severe shock and had lost so much blood that he passed out waiting on the ambulance to arrive at the scene. Due to the huge amount of blood loss and multiple surgeries Tyler endured throughout his recovery he received ninety-seven units of blood. Without the Oklahoma Blood Institute’s blood supply Tyler may not have lived. Watching Tyler recover and prosper was such an eye opening experience. I knew that when I was able to that I needed to do my part in helping to save lives by donating blood every chance I could. At the beginning of the school year the need to donate my blood hit really close to home. My childhood friend, Brent Nicholas was diagnosed with acute leukemia. For Brent receiving blood drastically became a life or death situation for him. Knowing the pain my dear friend was going through truly hurt me. I donated blood at the next blood drive at my school and put Brent’s name down in order for him to get credit. The whole time I was sitting in the chair while blood was being pumped out of my arm all I could picture was Brent’s face. I was sitting there hoping that many of my peers would understand the importance of donating and take the time out of their day to help save a life, to possibly help save Brent’s life. Personal situations have helped me realize the importance of donating so I can help save as many lives as possible and encourage others to so as well. Donating has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined, by helping others in need whether you know them or not. As I graduate and go on with my future I plan to continue to donate blood. I see it as a way to give back and contribute to my community. I may not get to meet the people I have helped, but I know that I have impacted their lives. The people in need of mine and others blood are someone’s child, mother, family member, or loved one. I hope that when my family and loved ones are in need, people in my community will feel the same way I do about the importance of donating blood.
Thank you, Briana French