Megan Jernigen
lilmoo_102@yahoo.com
This story is not about me so to speak, this story is about my best friend whose life was changed by donations from the Oklahoma Blood Institute. I will tell you a little about our friendship, we grew up together in a pre-school through eighth grade school. It did not matter that she was a year younger than I always you could always find us together. During the summer we would basically spend the entire summer together whether it be at basketball camps, each others house, or at the lake if you saw one of us you saw both of us. From her third grade year on we played sports together we knew each other next move on the court, knew how to push each other on the track everything. Time went on still as good as friends as can be, the summer I graduated from the K-8 school she got deathly sick.
Hearing the news that my best friend had gotten so sick that she almost was not with us anymore was heart breaking. At first they did not know what was wrong with her but then they found out she had E. coli that had settled in her kidneys. Talk about lengthy treatment but not only treatment also the recovery time. This is where the Oklahoma changed not only her life but the lives of many, her stay in the hospital she endured fifteen red blood cell transfusions, three fresh frozen plasma, three platelets, and a IVIG. She also was put on dialysis for twenty one days. Her life was changed forever although she is healed she still cannot do the things she used to at the speed she wants. She is a very successful athlete despite her past illness. I am proud to say my best friend is a fighter. She was in the hospital pretty much all summer. When she recovered they had a blood drive for her, I wanted to give so badly but I was too young at that time that is when I knew when I was of age I was going to give every chance I got.
When I finally became eligible to donate, when I donated for the first time I found out I was O negative. I thought that it was neat that I have the chance to help everybody with just a simple donation. I want to give blood every chance I get so I can help the people who need the same fighting chance my friend did. I have given blood and platelets and never went a second of giving without thinking about the person who is going to receive my donation and how their life will be impacted. Every time I make my appointment I think of her and how she is the reason I donate today. Another reason I donate is because you never know when you are going to need that kind of help. Her experience with the Oklahoma Blood Institute touched me in a very special way I wish everyone understood the importance of just a simple blood donation.