As I volunteer as coordinator for Vitalant blood drives at Centerpoint Church, I am always learning and marveling.
I am learning more about blood, about the constant need for donations and the various ways we can help.
I am marveling at the transformative power of blood to serve cancer patients, newborns and new mothers, surgery and trauma patients, and folks dealing with blood disorders requiring regular transfusions.
There are four types of blood donations, including whole blood, platelet, power red (double red cell) and plasma.
There are four blood types (A, B, AB and O), which are then further classified by an Rh factor of either positive or negative.
Type O negative is only found in 9 percent of the population, but it is the type which can be given to help patients of every blood type, thus called the “universal” blood type.
Enough with the facts, interesting as they are.
Here is the call for your help.
Every two seconds, someone needs a transfusion, and they will receive it only if family, friends and strangers have made the choice to donate blood in their community.
Please join us at Centerpoint Church, 2750 Cornerstone Drive, on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and help in this effort.
There will be free hemoglobin A1C testing done on donations made in September, which can help inform you of your risk for diabetes.
To make an appointment, please contact Sharee Grazda by call or text at (970) 946-2760, call Vitalant at (877) 258-4825 or go online at vitalant.org.
Many thanks, and we hope to see you soon.
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