Be a Lifesaver

I hope you'll forgive me for a public service announcement. This summer I got several reminders in the mail about making a blood donation (something I used to do regularly until I had kids and got "too busy"). As you might already know, summertime is when the U.S. blood supply dips dangerously low. I've just scheduled an appointment for myself to donate again, for a few reasons. First, it is birthday season for my kids, and I am so grateful for the medical care I received when both babies tried to arrive very early. Second (and I don't mean this to sound flip at all), but I have been riveted to each episode of ABC's Boston Med and in last week's episode, viewers saw a trauma patient who needed 16 units of blood (he survived). Third, on a personal note, we have two close family friends in hospitals right now- one in ICU with a staph infection, one undergoing a heart transplant as I type this. Medicine is pretty amazing, but there's only so much that can be done without human blood transfusions. It's a small thing that most of us can do easily to help save lives. Please read more at the Red Cross's blood donation website, including the closest donation sites to your location. Thank you!