A New Thanks for Blood Donors
John Armitage, M.D.
President & CEO Oklahoma Blood Institute
How do you say thank you to a stranger who has saved your life? What if that person is someone whom you don’t know? This is the situation for thousands of Oklahomans who are alive because blood donors helped them survive accidents, surgeries, chemotherapies or other serious health threats. On Monday, August 2, blood recipients can show their appreciation to those donors by supporting Blood Thanks and Giving Day.
If you are a blood donor, we ask that you wear a free, symbolic arm wrap to let others know you give the Gift of Life. Many Oklahoma Blood Institute donors have received these in the mail. Wraps are also available through August 2, at all Oklahoma Blood Institute donor centers (see www.obi.org for locations). Wearing a donor arm wrap on Blood Thanks and Giving Day, on August 2, is an easy and powerful way to set an example to others to join you in the selfless act of blood donation.
If you are a blood recipient and want to show your gratitude, you are invited to wear a free, specially-designed wrist band on August 2. These are also available at any Oklahoma Blood Institute donor center (see www.obi.org). By doing this, you will make visible to donors the otherwise hidden impact of their life-saving gifts. You will put a face on a humanitarian activity that is almost always anonymous to protect medical confidentiality for both patients and donors.
There is no better way to inspire donations than by sharing stories of how lives are saved and affected by transfusions. Seeing and talking to blood recipients provides the ultimate, ongoing motivation for donors. Because there are hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients in our state, hopefully there can be many such opportunities.
Blood Thanks & Giving Day was created last year as a way to visually highlight the power of Oklahomans giving of themselves to help neighbors, friends, and family in need. It also provides a great moment to celebrate two wonderful traits of Oklahoma’s people: generosity and graciousness.
On behalf of Oklahoma Blood Institute, I invite you to rejoice in the miracle of life shared through blood donation. With your help, we can redefine transfusion from being a “routine” medical procedure to an expression of extraordinary community connectedness. Any activity that has touched hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans certainly has power; so let’s tap that power on Monday with arm wraps, wristbands, and fellowship.
Updated 07-27-2010
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