The Great Oklahoma Blood Institute

My name is Jamie Thompson I am a senior at Tuttle High School. I am one of the younger kids in my class so when the blood drive came to my school I had to wait longer to be able to donate.  I was eager to start donating so that was always hard.  When I was old enough to start donating I didn’t miss any of the blood drives! Then I learned about giving platelets, I’ve given platelets since. I love that it helps cancer patients, that’s close to my heart. When I was young my grandpa died from cancer and I was pretty close to him so it was really hard. My mother’s mom also died from cancer before I was born so I didn’t have the chance to meet her, my mom tells me I’m so much like her all the time. I want to be the person giving the cancer patients any extra time they can get, hours, days, months, or years! I have triple the number of platelets of the normal person.  So when I give its like I give as the equivalent to three people. My other grandma was just recently diagnosed with cancer and the thought of paying her back by donating and helping her for once is a great feeling. God blessed me with more platelets than most people so I in turn need to bless other people who need them.  It may take a long hour but knowing I’m able to help someone is the greatest feeling. Knowing I may be young but I’m making a difference with my life, nothing is greater than that. I know that not always will it affect someone tremendously but I know that person knows there are people like me who care enough to help them! I hope someday I can drastically help someone. Nobody can ever take that hope away from me. I am thankful for the Oklahoma Blood Institute.  A place where someone like me can go to, no matter what my life is like, I can always be a help to someone out there in the world! No matter how long or bad my day has been there is just something about showing up at the blood institute that makes you feel great! The men and women that are working always have the greatest smiles on their faces, no matter if they are off with each other or attending me. The atmosphere there is always encouraging and so welcoming! I love that not only are they concerned about my blood but my health as well! They are always so supportive and caring from telling me they almost got my vain and I can do it, to rushing me a Gatorade and ice packs when I almost pass out, giving me little chocolate vitamins to make my tingling go away, and giving me a blanket when I’m cold! They don’t get enough credit for being as great as they are! Every time I give I feel like they genuinely care about my stories and what I did last week! Not only is it their job I truly believe it’s something more to them, and they are all my little superheroes for that! When I leave I don’t leave just knowing I saved a life, but I bonded with the person that helped me! I just want to give them the credit they deserve, because if it wasn’t for all of them and their encouraging and smiley faces getting a needle put in my arm would be a lot harder to face!  Thank you Oklahoma Blood Institute!