blogs/brentspodek

Every so often, my wife Alison and I get phone calls from people who fear for their lives. 

They are leukemia patients, usually young, with kids at home, facing a terrifying reality. We do our best to support and guide and comfort them, as others supported and guided and comforted us when Alison was sick and that terror was ours.

A big part of how Alison survived her illness was that transfusable blood was available when she needed it. 

It's not that the blood was available once we organized friends, a day or a week later, but it was in the ambulance and in the hospital when she needed it. 

It was available because someone, somewhere, walked into a blood drive and donated. The donors who gave had no idea where their blood was going, but I did. Their donation went to save my wife's life. 

I have every confidence that if I called you up and said that "so-and-so, who you know from BHA, is dying. You can save her if you come and donate blood," you would donate if you possibly physically could.  But when the need is anonymous, it somehow doesn't feel so urgent. 

So please, let me tell you - the need is not anonymous. There are real people with names and families dying and they need blood to survive. They are real and we get phone calls from them every so often. You can help save them if you come and donate blood. 

I very much hope you will do just that, this Sunday.