Welcome to my 30th Birthday Blood Drive!

Hello everybody!

As you all are painfully aware of by now, COVID-19 has put a damper on most events and celebrations that didn’t squeak in before Leap Day this year. Additionally, as most of you know, I am turning 30 this Friday, June 26th!!! In lieu of my original birthday plans, I decided to hold a virtual blood drive with the American Red Cross!

THE WHY

One: I don’t want to be one more person having a Facebook fundraiser for my birthday. I don’t have the money to give to those so I’m not about to ask anyone else to donate money. Plus money can’t make blood, only people can.
Two: I’m hoping this will encourage some people who don’t normally donate blood to try it. The ARC is always in need of blood and there is a desperate shortage right now.
Three: This cause is important to me personally. I have a rare combination: Type O Negative, CMV Negative. My blood type (O-) is the universal donor and can be transfused to anyone. CMV Negative means that I do not have the cytomegalovirus antibodies, which are created as the result of fighting off a nasty flu. Via blood transfusion the antibodies are relatively harmless to adults and healthy children but can be deadly to newborns. Since my blood is tested at every donation and so far remains CMV negative, it is always rushed to NICUs to save babies!! (To find out more on the importance of CMV Negative blood, click here.)

THE GOAL

My goal that I’ll be happy with is to get 10 donors—that’s 30 lives saved!! That’s also the reason why the hashtag for my blood drive is #30LivesFor30Years so use it when posting on Facebook or Twitter about your blood donation. But… my reach goal is to get 30 donors! That will add up to 90 lives saved! Wouldn’t that be AMAZING!?

THE HOW

In addition to previous years, I made 4 donations in 2018, 5 donations last year, and I’ve already donated twice this year—once during the COVID-19 lockdown period—bringing my total amount of blood donated to two gallons! I assure you, the American Red Cross staff are taking all the necessary precautions when disinfecting surfaces and distancing donors from each other.

My drive is set to start on MY BIRTHDAY, Friday, June 26th and last for 90 days (until Saturday, September 26th). I’ve given everyone plenty of time to make an appointment, roll up their sleeve, and save some lives!

Some info & tips:

• Be sure to drink a lot of water the week before you’re scheduled to donate. I mean DOUBLE your regular intake!
• Take multivitamins the week before as well or eat iron-rich foods. You’ll need to have a certain level of iron in your blood to be eligible to donate.
• If you wear nitrile gloves out in public, don’t bother wearing them to donate. You’ll have to take them off anyway.
• You MUST wear a mask though!!
• Make sure you eat a meal or good snack 30–90 minutes before you donate.
• Try not to take Aspirin, drink alcohol, or smoke marijuana for 24 hours before your donation. If you do you can still donate, they just discourage it and they will definitely turn you away if you’re under the influence.
• Also don’t make plans to do any excessive activities the rest of the day (i.e. moving, gardening, going out dancing). You’ll feel a little weak and tired. But you get yummy snacks after donating!!
• You’re supposed to sit at a table while eating the snacks for 10–15 minutes. Do this, because you may feel fine and then get hit with lightheadedness very suddenly.
• When you sign up to donate blood, you give them your email address. On the day of your donation, you will receive an email to fill out something called RapidPass. DO THIS! It will save you a lot of time when you get to your donation appointment. Once you complete the RapidPass questionnaire, you’ll be shown a QR code which you can print or email to yourself. Make sure you bring the QR code (either on paper or your phone) and your ID to your appointment.

Any questions, let me know!! I’d love to have each and every one of you participate in my big 30th birthday blood drive!