By: Dawn Anderson, American Red Cross Volunteer

When I was seven years old, I overheard my mother calling all around our small community asking people to donate blood. The circumstances were dire. A cousin was bleeding internally, and his very life depended on blood transfusions.

I remember feeling so disappointed and helpless to learn that I was too young to donate. As a nurse’s kid, even then I knew my blood type, O positive, was important to hospitals. Type O positive is the most transfused blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type.

My mother and others rallied enough donors and my cousin pulled through. Because of those generous donors, he was able to celebrate the high moments like graduations and weddings of not only his children but his grandchildren as well.

A few years later my mother was back on the phone seeking donors to help another friend in need. This time 30 donors were needed each month to provide treatments for a 10-year-old who had a rare blood disorder called hemophilia. With hemophilia, the blood doesn’t clot properly because of a deficit of blood clotting proteins which means that cuts and even bruises can be life-threatening.

‌When the call went out this time, I had just turned 16 and was eligible to donate. I headed to my local high school lunchroom, rolled up my sleeve, and it was then that I began my donating journey. Thanks to my blood donation and countless others like it, this young boy beat the odds, survived, and is now the proud father of three adult children.

Today when I roll up my sleeves and feel that tiny prick in my arm, I think of these two individuals. I am honored to know that in some small way, I helped save their lives. I may not know who benefits each time I give blood, but I do know one donation can help save more than one life. Less than an hour of my time and a pint of my blood enable people to hold that grandchild, attend that wedding, and simply be there for those special moments in life. Knowing this is simply an incredible feeling for me.

The American Red Cross is currently experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. Blood and platelet donations are needed now to help alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical procedures proceed without delay. As Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the American Red Cross, stated, “A person needs lifesaving blood every two seconds in our country — and its availability can be the difference between life and death, however, blood is only available thanks to the generosity of those who roll up a sleeve to donate.”

‌You can help ensure someone is there for life’s greatest moments by donating blood. If you can give, please make an appointment to donate today by visiting redcrossblood.org. Someone’s life depends on it.