My mother married my step-father in 2004, and at the moment they became one, I gained a life I would never imagined I would have. My biological father left us and moved to Oklahoma and did not want contact with my mother, sister, or myself. So, we accepted my step-father’s family as ours. Soon after, I found out that my grandma (my step-father’s mother) had a very rare blood disorder, where she had small “bump-like” things inside and out and would pop up without her knowing, so she would loose a large amount of blood, and not even know it until she would fall, or have another sign of blood loss. She would have to be taken to the hospital and have blood rushed from a larger hospital because her blood type is rare. I spent many nights in a waiting room of a hosiptal waiting to see if they could find her blood type, and to wait and see if she would pull through. It is unexplainable how it is to sit there and wait to see if soemone did their part to help your loved one.

When I was in 6th grade, I was offered through our school to have a local blood bank come to donate blood, although due to state law, I was not old enough, even with parental consent to donate. I waited until I was old enough to donate on my own, because my mother did not want me to doante becuase she is scared of needles and thought it would traumatize me, or something like that. So, the date of my first donation came, I was so nervous, I prayed all the way to our gymnasium, where the bank makes a make-shift donation center, as I walked into the gym, I realized 3 of my closest friends were there to donate with me! We all had cots beside each other and held hands while nurses put the needle in (they usually do not let you do this). We all talked each other through it, and I told the nurses why we were all there to donate and she was proud of us. Although I do not want anyone to pat me on the back for doing such, I would like them to go out and donate. Well, my grandmother just died last month due to a long illness, and in part from the blood disorder, and even though she is not with us anymore, I still donate blood quarterly, and although, she was not my blood type I know that someone out there is, and I know that by my donation, I made someone’s life brighter, and to know that I eased someone’s mind by donating, just something that no one can get with money. I encourage all of you reading this to go to your local Red Cross, or any blood bank and donate, even if you do not have anyone to do it for, just know that there are lots of people that need your blood, and in all reality, you have some to spare! If you need inspiration, I hope that my grandmother will find your heart, and do it for all of the other people who are in need. I know that your decision will be a life changing one, you choose whether it is good or bad!