Miami, Florida
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Biaggio C.
My journey as a blood donor began because of my grandmother, María Matute. About eleven years ago, my grandmother became seriously ill in Venezuela at 99 years old and required multiple blood donations while hospitalized in Nirgua, Yaracuy State. She had been a nurse for most of her life and, even after retirement, continued helping people in her community free of charge. She cared for neighbors, visited families, helped children and supported anyone who needed her.
When people learned she urgently needed blood donors, something extraordinary happened. Many people voluntarily came to the hospital to donate blood. Some had been her patients, others were relatives of people she had helped, and many simply wanted to give back after remembering her kindness. Witnessing that changed my life forever. In that hospital, I understood that the good we give to the world eventually returns through other people. My grandmother passed away in November 2015 at 100 years old, but her example of kindness and service continues living in me every day. Today, I am an O-positive donor and have completed 28 blood donations, totaling 3.5 gallons and impacting more than 84 lives. I donate blood as an act of gratitude for the people who helped my grandmother and for the opportunity to help save someone I may never meet. My goal is to continue donating until I reach at least 100 lives impacted and, if my health allows me, continue this beautiful volunteer mission for many years to come.