“Mom, Jake’s already dead.”

Recently, Griffin (my five-year-old son) came home from school and handed me a flyer.

As he handed me this flyer, he told me the story of Jake, diagnosed with cancer when he was four years old and in junior kindergarten. Then Griffin told me that he wanted me to go donate blood.

“You want me to donate blood for Jake?” I asked.

His reply? “No, Mom. Jake’s already dead.”

BAM.

I’ve considered donating blood for the past couple of years, ever since my stepdaughter Laura organized a blood drive at her high school. I went and tried to donate, but they couldn’t take my blood that time because 1. I was dizzy and 2. I had traveled to a malarial area within the past year. I’m not going to lie to you, I was relieved. Like many people, the idea of giving blood makes me feel a little…weak. And I won’t be able to work out the next day. You know what? BIG FREAKING DEAL. Because there’s a boy who died when he was 7, who won’t be able to work out, oh, EVER. And donated blood gave him three more years of life, and gave his parents three more years with their beautiful son, Jake. So, on April 9th, I plan to donate blood for the first time at Jake’s Blood Drive.

Tomorrow, April 1, marks the start of #DonateLife month and I am asking you, too, to donate blood. BloodCenter of Wisconsin is a client, and is a phenomenal organization, and that has nothing to do with why I am writing this post. It’s just disclosure. I’m writing this post because it is truth. Think about it…you have the power to save lives.

I’m also encouraging you to sign up to donate organs and for the National Marrow Donor Program. I did last year, because of another boy, David, my friend’s nephew. In 2008, David went to donate blood for the first time with his dad. He was told that he was not eligible to donate that day because a pre-screening determined that he was anemic. Three months later, he was diagnosed with MDS, a form of bone marrow cancer. His only treatment option was a life threatening bone marrow transplant. David has had ten rounds of chemotherapy and recently had his 35th bone marrow biopsy. He is doing OK, thanks to donor T-cells that have given David and his family hope.

I’ll let you know in a 8 or 9 days what my first blood donation is like. If you’re already a regular blood donor, thank you, and I encourage you to leave you own story in the comments. Why do you give blood? What does it feel like? If you signed up to donate organs or are on the bone marrow registry, why did you do that?

Thanks.

 

 

 

  • Emily

    Sue — you continue to inspire me. Thanks for continuing to blog.

    I’ve given blood a couple times. Not on my own accord. It’s been strictly due to very serious peer pressure. I’m talking about being dragged out to the donation van and being shamed in to bearing my veins for the betterment of the human race. Am I proud of this? Not so much. Was it the only way I would do it? Absolutely.

    About the donation. It’s not that bad. Really. And I am a huge wimp and professional procrastinator. I hate needles. Just typing that word makes me nauseous. That said, I’ve had the best luck with great clinicians who either give me the tough love I need or simply baby me until it’s over. Either way, it was the people around me reminded me why a little prick can be so important. It’s people like you reminding us to do it.

    So thanks for the post. And be sure to eat the damn cookie you get for donating. 1) It’s part of the experience 2) you will have worked hard for it and 3) they’re delicious. No exceptions. Calories don’t count here. How’s that for some peer pressure?

    • http://www.spaighttalk.com Sue Spaight

      Em, thank you very much. It’s been tough to find time to blog here and also contribute to the Jigsaw blog. I like sleep too much, and exercise. But, I’m making an effort to somehow find more hours in the day. I figure it’s better to blog once in a while than to not blog at all. Especially if it makes a difference to even a couple of people. Thank you for giving blood, too, even if it’s under duress. I promise to eat the cookie : ) -Sue

  • Dione

    I am also on the Be the Match bone marrow and stem cell registry, and I really encourage everyone reading this to consider joining as well. It’s really, really easy to be on the list. You just get a kit, swab your mouth with Q-tips, do little paperwork and send it in. Done. Only about 1 in 20 people are ever found to be a match for someone else, which is numeric testimony to how difficult it is to find a donor.
    I became a member of the list after I found out I wasn’t a stem cell match for my brother. It was very upsetting and frightening news. What if no one on the registry was a match? It’s a horrible feeling of failing someone you love, even if rationally you know you have no control over your biology. But that’s nothing compared to the fear the cancer patient must face at that point.
    My brother was lucky to find a match, but we have heard of others who didn’t get good news. And when you’re on the list, you have a chance to be that good news and hope someone needs.

    • http://www.spaighttalk.com Sue Spaight

      Dione, thanks for sharing your story! Thank goodness your brother found a match – is he doing OK now? Hopefully anyone reading this will take the chance to be someone’s good news and hope. Powerful stuff. -Sue

  • Denise

    Hi Sue! Great story! I am actually on the bone marrow and stem cell list and have been for more than 10 years. I am ashamed to admit I have never given blood before either though. Shelly goes and gives blood each and every month and each time she mentions it, I think to myself, gosh I really should do that. I think going with you to that blood drive would have been great, but I am already scheduled to go to Mary’s house for the weekend. Should we try to schedule going together in May sometime?? Moral support!?

    • http://www.spaighttalk.com Sue Spaight

      Denise, No need to feel ashamed. Everyone has their own personal reasons for doing what they do or don’t do. It’s great that you are on the bone marrow registry! I’m going to reserve the right to see how the first donation goes before I start officially booking the next one. But, yes! Let’s do it!

  • http://www.twitter.com/ArtseyC Amy Canada

    Giving blood can be made easier physically by preparing a bit in advance. Eat a good diet in the days before, including lots of spinach, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc. which will enrich your blood and make the donation less costly on your system. A delicious way is to toss frozen fruits into a blender with fruit juice, a handful of fresh spinach, and a banana. It tastes wonderful and is a fantastic pick me up on any day. Great for post work outs too.
    Thanks for giving blood this month, Sue. You’re right, it’s literally a gift of life.

    • http://www.spaighttalk.com Sue Spaight

      Amy, thank you, that’s super helpful. I love the smoothie idea for the morning of donation. I will absolutely be doing that. -Sue

  • http://www.translatordigitalcafe.com Cindi Thomas

    Thank you for writing about this and bringing attention to the importance of giving blood. Many don’t realize that a simple donation does not only provide much needed blood, but so many other life saving, life enhancing treatments are derived from blood donations.

    I can speak to this personally because I myself rely on the generosity of others and their donations. I have an undiagnosed condition that requires IVIG (Intravenous Immune Globulin) treatments to calm my neurological attacks. The treatments are a high concentration of human proteins that are derived from blood donations. There are often shortages in the US, which can be devastating to those who rely on such treatments to lead a productive life. I am thankful every day for those that take the time, face the fear and make the donation. Trust me, those that benefit like me are eternally grateful. :)

    Sue, when you donate, I’ll be sure to bring you a cookie as a thank you. :)

    • http://www.spaighttalk.com Sue Spaight

      Cindi, thanks for sharing that! Now I’ll not only be thinking of Jake and David when I donate, but about you. It helps me – and others – to put a face on it. Cookies are good too though ; )

  • Mary Spaight

    I have never given either, sadly, but have now resolved to start. Jim goes to every blood drive held at our church and donates platelets (I think). His donation time is usually long, but he’s happy to do it, in memory of my mom. The simple fact is that those of us with healthy children cannot imagine the gratitude of those whose children struggle with life-threatening illness, or a blood disorder. That is a nightmare that I cannot comprehend. Jim also says that it’s one way to not feel powerless about kids who fight for their lives. At least he can do something, he says. It is the gift of life, and I no longer have any excuse not to give a gift of my own. Thanks for reminding us, Sue.

    • http://www.spaighttalk.com Sue Spaight

      Woot! for Jim and for you, Mary, for resolving to donate. Let us know what your experience is like. Love Jim’s insight about donating blood as a way to not feel helpless…there’s nothing worse than seeing kids sick and suffering, and this is a little something we can all do about it.

  • Gark

    Susan – ask your father how many gallons of blood he has donated over the decades…it is impressive. If I remember the story correctly he started during the war just because they always needed blood, and he kept it up.

    I donate once a quarter on average, and honestly, it becomes pretty much no big deal. Drink a little extra water, and go ahead and work out the next day – (I am not a Doctor, but you can’t believe everything everyone tells you…) you’ll be fine if you are in good health. You may not want to try to break your PR for a marathon 24 hours later, but a normal workout is no big deal – we as a society have really become wussified… :-)

    Best to you and the whole Fam.