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21 April 2011

I never ever realised.

This is nothing to do with tatting but worth reading, I hope.  

Yesterday I attended (accompanied by 'you know who') a special and lovely dinner and presentation.  I was given an award.  Something I'd been working towards, despite a few hiccups, since I was about thirty two ish.  Even though I'd been on this 'campaign' for all those years I didn't realise quite what I'd achieved!!!

You can see me in the picture BUT the bravest and most courageous people were standing either side of me.  They stood up and spoke about their children (one a teenager and the other in his early twenties) who had died tragically of leukemia.  I tell you it nearly made me cry to hear them speak and to hear how much help they'd needed to gain an extra few months (for one couple) and a year (for the other couple) of life for their children.  Sadly they both died.

Please, please PLEASE do help people like them as it's so easy to do.  All you need to do is donate a unit of blood regularly.  Not a lot to ask - it doesn't hurt and it's a good health check for yourself (that's a bonus and one which I was grateful for a few years ago).  If you know ANYBODY and particularly teenagers who are eligible then please encourage them to donate wherever you are in this world of ours.

Oh, I got a badge, a glass crystal plate, a big clap and the photo below as well as a stonking good meal and all I did was lie on a bed 75 times, bleed into a bag, scoff tea and biscuits and trot off home.  See how easy it is.  


Oh, by the way, here in the UK we do it for free too.  I believe that in America people are paid for their donations so even more of a reason to donate!!!

30 comments:

  1. Congratulations Jane! Just think of all those people you have helped.
    It's so easy to give too - I used to be a donor so I know the procedure.
    What blood group are you? I'm A Rh P, not eligible to donate any more but thankfully our elder daughter does.

    Keep up your "bloody" good work!

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  2. Well done
    Unfortunately, I cant give blood as I am a dibetic, and my husband is also a debetic and has had a heart attack but bofore that he gave blood regularly.
    You dont say how many pints you have given?
    Have a nice day
    Margaret

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  3. Thanks Anne. I'm B rhesus positive. It was 'suggested' by a consultant that I probably shouldn't give anymore when I'd done about 65 but I was determined to get this award!!!
    Margaret - it says on the blog post that I gave 75!!!

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  4. Good for you Jane! Wonderful story, thanks of donating and sharing!

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  5. Congratulations, Jane! That is a wonderful achievement! Yes, it is possible to get paid for your blood here in the States, but most people I know donate. Thank goodness for blood donors!

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  6. Congratulations, Jane, this is a wonderful wonderful thing you have been doing!! 75 pints, that is sooo incredibly awesome. I also give blood. In the US we also get cookies and juice, maybe a tshirt once in awhile, but no $, at least my part of the US doesn't give $. I do it for the same reason you do, because we care about people. You are so incredibly awesome! Congratulations again! Thank you for sharing the picture.

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  7. I don't think we're paid for donating whole blood, at least not that I'm aware of! But there is a paying program for plasma, a component of blood. I used to work in such a facility, a long time ago! The blood is collected, the plasma part separated and then the remains put back in the donor. Not something you'd want to do long term.

    Congrats on yet one more aspect of your generosity!

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  8. Congrats to you Jane. I received a pin for donating over a gallon. I can't donate anymore as it makes me sick now and my doctor won't let me do it anymore. Great photo too.

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  9. This is wonderful....You are wonderful!!
    j.

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  10. I knew you were a rare bird!

    B negative is one of the rarest blood types. I can't donate (I used to) due to some medical issues, but DH did pheresis for years as a donation. That's the part Gina is talking about where they take a blood component. He used to watch a movie while they took blood out of one arm and put what they didn't need back into the other, all at the same time. Took about 2 hours. Some component used for cancer patients.

    Great job, old git!

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  11. Congrats! What a wonderful service you have done. I am a regular donor myself and agree it is easy to do. Good on you Jane!

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  12. Congratulations Jane! That is certainly an achievement to be proud of.

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  13. Congratulations! That is such a rewarding achievement.

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  14. Congratulations! - you are a far braver woman than I am!I'm A negative and I was asked to become a donor after the birth of my second baby, 39 years ago! - but it made me terribly sick and it was so awful that I never went back after that first time.
    However I am immensely grateful to people who are donors, since transfusions quite literally saved the life of my eldest daughter earlier this year.
    And lastly - that blue outfit looks wonderful, it's just your colour.

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  15. hi Jane!

    how much is one donation in the metric countries? here in the US it's a pint. i'm up to 11 gallons.

    8-)

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  16. Well done, Jane! Congratulations.
    Fox : )

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  17. Anonymous2:05 pm

    Congratulations Jane :)My DH has given blood many times also!!! We have very dear friends who lost their 5 year old son to Leukemia. It is a terrible disease but, if folks continue to give blood it helps. Sadly because I have high blood pressure I can not give blood but, I respect those who can give and do :)

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  18. Ah, Dani, I THINK each donation is a litre. Like petrol over here we went metric years ago. 11 GALLONS. Wow, that's made me feel a wimp. Well done.

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  19. Well done, Jane! I cannot donate due to health issues, but DH did for years and DS and DIL do now regularly. Thanks goodness for the generosity of donors!

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  20. Félicitations à vous!!! C'est une superbe initiative de donner son sang..Mon Papa l'a fait pendant des années....Ici en France nous donnons gratuitement pour les mêmes raisons que vous....
    A bientot

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  21. I have never paid for giving my blood but now I can't give blood for I keep failing the test they give you. I am anemic. This was found after having my last child. I know that sometimes that happens after birth but I have been tested way after I gave birth to Ryan and I still fail the test so I can't give blood. But I have never been paid when I gave my blood and neither has anybody else in the family.

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  22. Congratulations Jane!

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  23. Hi Jane, good for you.

    I am up to 71 pints. I'm O+ so they love it when I come through the door. all my blood is donated. you have to go to the blood centers to get paid, out here in the country they bring a van out several times a year to the local hall and you can give blood that way.

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  24. If you remember I used to faint at the sight of blood. When we were children you joined the Red Cross and I went along to a demonstration that you were doing with the group and thought the blood was real! Just think how many lives you have saved by giving all that blood over the years, you deserve the award and thanks.
    Recognise the skirt!!!

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  25. Wow! That's an awful lot of blood, just imagine it all... I've never given blood, but I hope to some day. I'm anemic right now, but when that's all fixed maybe I can.
    That's great that you've been so committed to this! (:

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  26. What a lovely recognition for your years of generousity giving blood. I remember your last visit to give blood being rather antichimatic, so this is so much better.

    In the US, or my region anyway, blood which is donated to be transfused must come from volunteer donors who are not paid. However, those who donate plasma which is to be manufactured into pharmaceuticals are paid.

    I work in a hospital blood bank, so I am very grateful to everyone who donates so that I can take care of my patients.

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  27. Mira la ella, que guapa está vestida de azul.....me has recordado una canción que cantaba cuando era niña..."tengo una muñeca vestida de azul, con su camisita y su canesú;la saque de paseo se me costipó " jejejejejeje...... un abrazo



    Look at her, which is pretty blue dress ..... I've remembered a song I sang as a child ... "I have a doll dressed in blue, with his little shirt and bodice, the tour will kick me colds ...... ...... jejejejejeje

    Hugs....Isabel..

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  28. Yo durante años, he sido donante de sangre, y a los 18 me hice donante de organos..... Desde hace algunos no dono sangre, ya que tengo anemia y diabetes..... Aquí en España, la donación de sangre y organos es de modo altruista, ;


    I for years have been a blood donor, and at 18 I became a donor of organs ..... For some do not donate blood because I have anemia and diabetes ..... Here in Spain, donating blood and organs is so altruistic;

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  29. Se me ha olvidado lo principal..... darte la enhorabuena por el reconocimiento a tu generosidad....


    I have forgotten the main thing ..... congratulate you for the recognition of your generosity ....

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  30. Listen mate, if it hadn’t been for many people like you, I wouldn’t even be here. They gave me 26 units after the car accident and 2 a month for 3 years after cancer treatments. All the people that I know, including Loyal donate blood and are not paid. Of course, they won’t let me as I don’t have enough to spare. Loyal was always welcomed as he is AB negative. Good for you. I’m proud to have you as a pal!
    What a pretty blue frock. xxxx P

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