Giving Blood Saved My Life!  On June 2nd, I was scheduled to give blood.  I was deferred as my hemoglobin was too low.  I then tried again on June 22nd, but was deferred again for low hemoglobin.  I have given 90 units of blood without ever being deferred.  My wife, a nurse, "encouraged" me to contact my doctor since my iron levels went down without any change in my diet, etc.  I sent him a message and he ordered some blood work.  My results showed my hemoglobin was still low, so he scheduled me for a colonoscopy and an EGD to rule out any internal bleeding.  On July 28th, I had those procedures done.  They found cancer in my cecum, the beginning of the large intestines.  It was very early, Stage 1 cancer, so I didn’t need to have any chemotherapy or radiation.  I only needed to have that portion of my colon removed.  Unfortunately, the majority of cecum cancer symptoms are late, meaning the disease is already very advanced by the time you notice these symptoms.  So I was VERY LUCKY!  I was 48 years old without any symptoms and I only found out that I had cancer because I regularly give blood.  Since my family has no history of colon cancer, screening is not recommended until age 50.  That means the cancer would have progressed for almost two years before I had that first screening colonoscopy.  Therefore I am very thankful to the American Red Cross for saving my life!  So thankful that I am starting a virtual blood drive.  I want to collect 50 units of blood by my 50th birthday on November 28th, 2018.  If you are able to give blood, please help me reach my goal.