I have saved three lives by donating blood. The funny thing is, I am afraid of needles. I was born that way. We can make sacrifices to better someone’s life by one action. Giving blood and sacrifices are big things and even overcoming your fears can save a life.
Unfortunately, I never got to meet them. But I know I did. I got a letter in the mail that said, “Dear Mr. Cruz, Red Cross would like to thank you for donating blood. You saved three lives.” If one donation can save three lives that is pretty amazing. It is well worth it to me to save the most people in this lifetime. It doesn’t matter to me if people remember my name after I die. I just want to be remembered as a hero to someone.
Mr. Payne is a nurse at the Ouachita Job Corps Center. The reason I tell you this is because he had to stick me with a needle. He had to do it because it is procedure. Every student has to get blood tests here. Mr. Payne said, “You are very needle shy.” Some people ask me why I donate blood if I am scared of needles. I do it for multiple reasons. The first reason is the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule states, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If I was in that situation where I needed blood I would want someone to give to me.
The second reason is my grandfather always told me it is better to give than to receive. The third reason is that I have O Negative blood. That type is rare. The good thing about O Negative blood is any blood type can receive it. And the last reason is to conquer my fears. That’s what heroes do. They conquer their fears and make sacrifices.
I remember my uncle Kenny had to get his leg amputated because he had cancer. It took a lot of courage to go through that. I know he is Aunt Mary’s hero. Aunt Mary is his wife. He chose to be a survivor and not a victim. We have a choice to be survivors or victims. He could have let the cancer kill him. I told my dad I would rather die than get my leg cut off. My dad told me that my life matters and it’s more important than your leg. I would miss you. I learned a life lesson. You make sacrifices to better your family life. Even if it’s something you want most, like a leg. Now I know my uncle gave up his leg to spend more time with his family. I would rather be a survivor together and giving blood is a way we can do that together.
If I can give blood and I fear needles and my uncle can get his leg cut off to have more time with his family, we can go through anything. Just giving what you can makes the world a pretty place. I am going to give blood every opportunity I can and save whomever I can.
Joseph Cruz
Ouachita Job Corps CCC