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• The Stars Align
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• The Greatest Walk On Earth: New Zealand’s Milford Track
• Bobby’s Blog — Don’t Worry.  Be Happy!

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• By Bob Hicks from the entry 'Vantage Point'
• By Nikki from the entry 'Vantage Point'
• By Susan W. McMakin from the entry 'Vantage Point'
• By Nancy Trego from the entry 'Vantage Point'
• By Jay Black from the entry 'Vantage Point'
• By Richard Anderson from the entry 'American Pride'
• By Carlos Catillo from the entry 'How Much Is Enough?'
• By Brendaveggie from the entry 'How Much Is Enough?'
• By ginger allen from the entry 'How Much Is Enough?'
• By caar from the entry 'Up Periscope'

On Monday, June 14th, I accomplished a goal. It should not have been so hard to do, and it took me about 35 years longer than it should have to do it. Whatever the hurdle was, I cannot say, but it must have been a very high hurdle for such a long period of gestation!

I gave blood.

What was I thinking to wait until I am 58 to give blood? I had to overlook countless blood drives. I must have been out of touch, ignoring this opportunity to give back as I watched each of my parents receive blood transfusions.

But the wisdom of giving back by giving blood finally began to sink in when my wife, then taking chemotherapy and now deceased, wrote to her friends on January 19th of this year, “I got a pint of blood yesterday, and will get another this morning. To all of you who donate blood, THANK YOU. Twenty minutes into the infusion, my headache was gone. Blood is a miracle. Donating is heroic!”

My colleague, Marcia Flaherty, is a regular blood donor and was my guide to Virginia Blood Services (www.vablood.org) at 9200 Arboretum Parkway (804-323-6307). I arrived to a clean, inviting and orderly environment, where I was greeted and quickly escorted to an evaluation room. As a first-timer, I had to answer a lot of questions to determine that I am an eligible donor. Upon passing the test, I felt confirmation that I am HEALTHY! YAY!

I felt like I had joined a club. Others in the room were either known to me, looked familiar or seemed like people I would like to meet. They were seasoned veterans at giving blood, relaxed, prepared with reading materials and shared cheery conversation. Some of the old hands were giving platelets, which takes about 50 minutes, while giving blood takes maybe 5 to 10 minutes after the nurses finish their prep work.

The recliner was comfortable and the nurse comforting. I have great veins, so I never even felt the needle, and I must have a good blood flow because in five minutes flat the needle was on its way out.

Okay, we must have truth in journalism, so I have to disclose that my experience did not end without a hitch. I felt so good about myself that I too quickly got off the recliner to head back to work, and by the time I neared the door I felt faint, sat down and eventually laid on the floor as I felt myself slipping toward unconsciousness. I was self-aware enough to know that you can’t hurt yourself when you’re already lying on the floor!

Everyone was so great to me! Immediately ice packs were brought for the back of my neck and chest, orange juice appeared for me to sip, and my brain which never fully lost consciousness began to un-fuzz. After about 10 minutes, I was escorted back to my recliner, where I was fed, cajoled and encouraged by everyone in the room. After another 20 minutes, my color was restored and I was off to my 3-hour afternoon meeting, which went swimmingly.

Here are some rookie mistakes I made, which you can avoid. First, drink a lot of fluids for a few hours before you give blood. Second, eat more than just fruit for breakfast! Third, give yourself a little extra time relaxing after giving blood and eat/drink something before you get up. These are basic rules of preparation, but you know us guys. What guy reads the instructions?

In today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, there is a call for donors with blood types O, B and A-negative. Whatever your blood type, consider becoming a donor. I hope to see you at Virginia Blood Services before I become one of the seasoned veterans!

Dear Bobby:  Thank you, Thank you.  I have for a number of years run the blood drive at my church where I have heard all the reasons to procrastinate, etc.  However, what you did is part of a mission I, and others have, to give back to the community a truly renewable resource that saves lives.  I consider this to be part of stewardship of creation (although many environmentalists would contest this definition)!!!

We all know someone who has benefited from the blood bank, whether it is an accident victim, a child with a birth problem, a leukemia patient or, as you a cancer victim and (often survivor).  Blood must be available to every operating room.  If a particular type is not available, the operation must be postponed. 

Thank you again for bringing this issue to the fore with your many admirers.

Eppa Hunton

Bobby,

I applaud your heroic act of “giving the gift of life.”  I am 55 and had been a blood donor from the age of 18 until three years ago when my health prohibited me from continuing to be a donor.  My daughter who is 27 has been a donor since the age of 18.  My father who passed away on Father’s Day of this year, received a 15 gallon pin in his 60’s when his health prevented him from continuing to be a donor. 

Therefore, from a long line of donors, I applaud your new-found sense of purpose!

On a different note, I have been reading your blogs since the passing of your wife; however, due to work and my father’s rapidly deteriorating health did not take the time to responsd.  Now that I have taken the time to respond, I would like to let you know your blogs helped me tremendously with the transitioning of my dad.  Thanks for being so selfless.

Claudette Carter Henderson
River Counties Community Foundation
Kilmarnock, VA

I received the following comment in my personal email from Nancy Eberhardt, which I am sharing with her permission. Her observations add great value to this discussion.

Bobby-

I really appreciated this topic and you are so great to share your lessons.  I give blood several times a year, usually reminding myself to do it just before holiday weekends.  It has become my holiday gift to the community – Easter/Passover, Memorial Day, July 4 (abiding by the 8 week rule in between).  Your blog made me think about why I do it besides the fact that I always believe it is the easiest gift to give.  After reading this and with some reflection, I realized why I so enjoy doing it-

1)  I feel a real sense of community with the blood service workers and the other donors.  I don’t go because it is a social event, but it feels so purely “community” when there.

2)  It costs nothing so it is the purest of egalitarian giving.  It is not about financial capacity – everyone who is healthy has the resources to give.

3)  Time is not a deterrent.  There are few things you can do that mean so much that take so little time.

4)  It is the ultimate in anonymous giving.  I have no idea who will get it.  I just know that it will be someone who has the most need.  And they will have no idea who gave it.

Thanks again for causing this “ah-ha” for me.  And reminding me to schedule my July 4 appointment.

Hoping you are well-

Nancy

Nancy K. Eberhardt

Pathwise Partners

8065 Leesburg Pike Suite 310

Vienna, Va. 22182

www.pathwisepartners.com

Good for you Bobby. While B is always on the list of blood needed, despite how healthy I am, I will never be able to give blood.  I’m glad someone else will now step in for me.