So I’ve started to write this and then deleted and then started and deleted. Truth is, I’m pretty emotional lately and I just can’t wrap my head around the amount of love and support I’ve received on this journey. This blog post is probably going to be a little all over the place so I apologize in advance.
Planning an event is always up and down. The excitement of planning of course but then the worry of, what if people don’t show up? As my mom and I set up for the blood drive I started to feel physically ill. My hands were shaking, my body was sweating and I was irritable. What if this whole thing is a flop?! Omg I’m going to have to talk to strangers today, I’m not good at talking to strangers! I took a few minutes to gather myself outside. Then it began - people started showing up. Some people I had never met before, some familiar faces.
I had a list of people who signed up to donate and they came... pretty much all of them and then some! It started to slow down between 2p - 4p and then all of a sudden so many people were there from 4p - 7p. I looked around the room and saw every table had a donor hooked up and the questionnaire tables were full and there were people waiting to get checked in. There were a lot of people! We freaking did it. We planned, we recruited, we shared and we freaking did it!
It was so incredible to see old friends, family from afar and strangers in the community all come together to support me and my cause. Not only were they supporting me, they were making a difference in this crazy world we live in. As I write this my eyes swell up... human kindness is incredible. I am always so touched by kindness. Always. I feel as if now a days, sadly, we don’t hear as much about the good as we should.
Well I’m here to spread the good. I'm going to sprinkle that shit everywhere! Yes, I wanted to raise awareness about my blood disease but more than that, I wanted to raise awareness to the blood shortage and get people involved. We often don’t realize how important something is until it effects us. I didn’t realize we were having a blood shortage until I was admitted at Sutter Tracy needing a platelet transfusion and there were no platelets! 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
On Monday, the community showed up BIG! Whether it was from directly knowing me or just wanting to help, people came to donate their blood. 15 people were FIRST time donors! Never ever donating before. It was incredible. We were able to raise $700 for the Platelet Disorder Support Association - which far exceeded my expectation! It was just so awesome to see and be a part of something great. People helping people. That’s what life is about. Human kindness in full swing 💜 That right there is good news my friends!
Little secret, not a secret anymore since I'm telling all of you about it, but I cried almost all the way home on Monday (it’s about a 45 minute drive). Not because I was sad but because my heart was just so incredibly full!! I felt like it could have exploded at any moment. People took time out from work, their busy schedules, in between classes, I mean - all kinds of people came! I can’t say enough thank yous to the donors, business owners and everyone who supported this event. Shout out to the Red Cross too!
I hope that we can get more people to donate and be aware. It takes an hour out of your day and you can save three lives with one donation. You never know who will need blood… it could be me 😉
The Tracy Press did a wonderful follow up story: https://www.ttownmedia.com/tracy_press/our_town/blood-donors-come-through/article_63639488-d51d-11eb-a713-171c897de0a6.html
Here are some photos from the event!
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