Donating blood is firmly embedded in my DNA. During the 1950s my dad, a universal O- donor, was the go-to guy for transfusions for "blue babies," whose blood was not compatible with their mothers'. A 3 a.m. phone call to our house from the hospital meant only one thing: They needed Dad's blood stat. Dad downplayed his role in saving lives but my brother and I carried on his legacy. To me, donating is as important as oxygen; it's an integral part of my life.