You are a good person.

I didn't think the Amish could donate blood. Not sure where I heard that though.

Good for you, Pam! (Big pat on the back to you!) Until I started on some of my RA meds I was a regular donor, and for a few years I donated for Pedi-Paks. It is so easy to donate, it would be wonderful if everyone who was able would do so. Congrats on giving the gift of life, Pam. (hehehe, can ya tell I was chairman of our local Red Cross?!)

I have never donated blood. When my daughter was born I found out that I had an antibody D. WHatever that is. My sister thought that they might want my blood and I went and asked them and they told me NO.

They don't want my blood, because I had radiation therapy. It's terrific if you can donate, though. It could easily help save a life.

thank you! I needed 8 or so transfusions this summer. A blood donor saved my life!

I used to give blood too

Good for you!! I try and donate at least twice a year. It doesn't bother me, and the need is so great. 1 donatation can help up to 3 people! I don't know they exact number but only a SMALL percent of people donate regularly (of those that can). I actually started in high school. They let seniors do it and you got to miss 1 class. That was enough for me-Sign me up!! LOL

One pint (a bag) of blood can save 3 lives. Donating blood is an excellent way to perform community service. Plus you get cookies and juice ;>)

Dh is a regular donor. I had hepatitis as a teen & thus am disqualified from donating.

Good on you Pam & all you other donors.

Before I went in the Air Force I regularly donated blood, but when I was discharged they looked at my service records and said that since I had worked in the bomb dump there was the posibility that I had come in contact with some biological weapons, therefore I can no longer give blood.

Thank you for giving blood. As some have said, it really is the gift of life, for many.

Memo to all: Please suggest to your friends that they make such a gift, as well. Quite often there's a shortage, sometimes resulting in greater illness, even loss of life.

When I was in university several of us used to go to a local hospital to sell blood - and $15.00 was decent money, back in 1950.

After the donation system started, I gave blood for years, except when I was in Korea.

Recently, after an episode of blood clots in the lung, when I had son accompany me to initial visit with haematologist, when going through my history and I related that the donor clinic had refused to accept my blood a few years ago, after finding something like HIV in my blood ...

... son went about six inches into the air ... and said that, though Dad didn't know it yet - that he would be going for an HIV test!

He must have been reassured by the doc's assurance that almost always such indications are innocuous and that there is really no problem, but that the clinics would be too much at risk were they to accept such blood, as that was over a year ago and I've heard no more about the proposed test.

ole joyful

I used to donate blood, but after living in England in the late 1980's, I'm no longer allowed to donate. There's a fear of Mad Cow disease, and since it's not known how long the disease gestates in a person's body before presenting symptoms, they can't take the chance on it. Tainted meat was sold in the UK in the 80's, so anyone there could have contracted the disease. Makes you wonder how they donate to one-another in the UK, since everyone's blood is potentially contaminated. Hmmmmm.

Just to suggest ...

... that in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, there are often fewer donors who come in to give their blood.

But the need continues unabated.

Please consider giving blood just now.

And possibly suggest to some relatives/friends that, instead of giving a gift to you, that they consider giving blood ...

... more useful/important, in many cases, than the shirt off of their back.

For most of us old folks ... we have no need of more "stuff": won't be room in the coffin to take it with us.

ole joyful

They called me about donating platelets. It takes about two and a half hours. Then I learned I was too short to donate platelets. Too short? Of course I came home a googled it. Yes you should be at least 5'4 and weigh at least 150.

I donate whole blood every 56 days. I got my 3 gallon pin last time. My iron is good so there's no reason not to.

Oh yea..talking about iron,,thats another reason they won't let me donate blood...the lab ppl say I am some sort of a modern day alchemist.....in the old days the alchemists were trying to turn lead into gold....they say my blood is doing something similar...all the iron in my blood is turning into lead in my butt.

Thank you and God Bless anyone who donates. My life was saved in 2001 by a transfusion. Unluckily, I now have kidney failure and I'm not allowed to donate. Hubby used to donate, he even got a Ten Gsllon Donor Award, but he mainly did it because his office gave him time off at work. He can no longer donate because he has MS, which "may" be contagious. A very mysterious disease.

I am going to call now and schedule an appointment to donate. I haven't donated for a couple of years but I was over 6 gallons at that time.

Good for you Linda!