Donating Blood is More Important Now Than Ever

donate bloodI can honestly say I was blessed to not have to deal with the fear of needles. Reading that sentence alone probably made someone cringe somewhere because of the word “needle.” For the record, my husband is one of those people who cringed. He hates them. HATES them. He shuddered and trembled when I had every IV placed in the hospital. I thought he was going to pass out when he saw the needle for the amniocentesis we had for our son. The point is, when it comes to donating blood (and even having labs drawn, and shots), let’s just say he isn’t the first person in line.

I am the opposite. I don’t live with the fear of needles that he does. I can hold a full, calm, and casual conversation while donating blood. I know that my veins are diagonal, they are small, and they like to roll. I know what to expect, and if for some reason the phlebotomist is having trouble getting flow, I offer to do it myself. I donate blood often and whenever I am able. I am in no way disrespecting those who have a fear of needles, but rather calling on everyone for help because this is a cause near and dear to my heart.

I owe a great debt to those who donate blood and plasma. I have only had one blood transfusion, during my c-section, and the complications led to blood loss. My son received his first transfusion within his first few hours of life and has received at least one transfusion each year since his birth due to surgeries. I can think of no greater way of saying thank you than by taking a moment to do it and encouraging everyone to help out in some way shape or form.

I mentioned this earlier, but I owe a great debt to those who donate blood and plasma. I know I cannot ever track down the people who gave blood to save my son’s life, or even my own. Instead, I donate whenever I am able to. I know that there is no price that can be given when it comes to giving someone another chance at life, but if I can help in any way possible, I will.

To find out where you can donate blood in your area, visit the American Red Cross or One Blood to schedule your appointment.

Brittany Hutto
Brittany Hutto was born and raised in a small (but fast-growing) town in Florida. She married her high school sweetheart and is the mother to the most kindhearted and adventurous little boy named Mark. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Florida where she majored in Public Health and Health Education. She served her community during her time working with underserved populations. After a complex pregnancy, she and her husband welcomed Mark to the world at 27 weeks and 4 days. She stepped away from her career to become a stay-at-home mom so that she could take her son to his many specialist appointments, therapies, and surgeries. She works tirelessly to ensure her son is happy, thriving, and meeting every milestone. Brittany enjoys many activities with her family. In her free time, you may find her reading a good book, spending time with her family out on the boat, DIY projects, and giving back to the local NICU. She currently manages her own blog which invites you to come along on her and her son’s journey from complex pregnancy, to the NICU, and every diagnosis and surgery in between. Brittany also manages a program called Mark’s Mission which gives back to local NICUs. She is an advocate for NICU support and research and is a current student pursuing her Master of Public Administration with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Health Care Administration at the University of North Florida. Her dream is to establish Make Your Mark as a non-profit organization to give back to more local NICUs and serve as a resource for local parents with children who have superpowers.

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