Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
I have been a whole blood donor off and on my adult life. I remember my mother telling me my grandma had donated blood and was a big donor. I never met my Grandmother, as she passed a few years after my parents adopted me.
Just recently I donated whole blood again at the drive at Daytona International Speedway. I was just there for my first race, thinking of my dad who enjoyed watching NASCAR. I remember watching the races with my dad every so often.
I was on Facebook one day after I returned from the race and noticed that there was a blood drive there, so I signed up. Less than a week later I received an email notification from OneBlood that has been on my mind ever since.
The email was to notify me that my whole blood donation was headed to Cleveland Clinic to help save a life. This brought me to tears, as my mother passed away at Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio) roughly 11 years ago from a massive stroke two days after a heart valve transplant.
I keep thinking, what are the odds that my blood donation went to a Cleveland Clinic facility. I think it was my mother and grandmother sending me a big hug at a time that I really needed one from them. It brings me to tears, and even as I write this tears flow down my face, but I am happy that I am able to help someone else, and I will continue to donate when I can.
Thank you to OneBlood for bringing my mother, grandmother and I together in a way that warmed my heart and soul.
