Got a Happy Story? Blood Donors Edition

This is an anniversary of sorts for us.  soberboy was born prematurely and spent his first 6 weeks of life in the neonatal intensive care unit--the NICU.  On December 6, 1996 I got a call at 2 am from a NICU doctor.  He said that soberboy was gravely ill and had been resuscitated several times.  By the time I arrived at the hospital they had drawn blood multiple times and had more episodes where he needed resuscitation.

By the time the day shift arrived they knew he was septic and he was placed on 2 separate broad spectrum antibiotics.  He also needed a blood transfusion since 3 pound babies don't have much blood left after repeated draws.

He was O+ so he was an easy match.  Within a half hour of his blood transfusion I watched his complexion go from waxy grey cadaver to pink baby.  Eleven years ago today at about this time soberboy was able to drink a bottle of breastmilk.  After approximately 25 resuscitations, 5 of which I witnessed, he didn't have a single one after his blood transfusion.  We have no idea who donated that lifesaving blood.  But every year I spend these 72 hours focused on gratitude for those anonymous heroes who give the very essence of life.

Got a Happy Story is a community gathering every Friday night where we share stories large and small that have put a smile on our face.  It is a time to acknowledge the joy and wonder we experience.  The Happy Story diary exists as a way to anchor the community in hope and comfort while we do the hard work of taking back our country. Everyone and all sorts of stories and pictures are welcome. May we find joy and strength here.

The need for blood varies from region to region but the winter and summer seasons tend to be times of high need and lower supply.  Every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood.  A single blood donation can save up to 3 lives.  According to the American Association of Blood Banks:

Every day in our country, approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims.

O+ is the most common blood type while AB negative is the least common.  People with type 0- are known as universal donors.  They can donate to anyone.  People who are 0+ can donate to any other blood type that is Rh positive.  The distribution of blood types in the United States population is:

O Rh-positive  38 percent

O Rh-negative   7 percent

A Rh-positive  34 percent

A Rh-negative   6 percent

B Rh-positive   9 percent

B Rh-negative   2 percent

AB Rh-positive  3 percent

AB Rh-negative  1 percent

January 2008 is National Blood Donor Month.  To learn the elegibility guidelines for donating blood check here.  If you're interested in donating and don't know where to find a blood bank you can check here or call 1-800-GIVELIFE. This link will hook you up with mobile blood drives in your area.

Please share your happy stories with us tonight.  Maybe you made a donation to a candidate, or found just the right holiday gift, or made a snowperson, or took your last final, or something else that you'd like to share with us.  Sometimes people lurk in this diary when they're having a tough time and the stories from different kossacks lift their moods a bit.  This is a tough time of year for many people so consider it a community service to share something.