I want to share this e-mail with the Community I received from my friend Barry Eisen. As a hemophiliac I personally thank him and any person who donates blood. Giving blood is giving hope. I think what he is doing is great. I encourage anyone that has good healthy blood to share it with the ones who may need it! .............
I hope you'll join me, in some way, to fill this need. Some of you may choose to join me by giving whole blood or platelets, others may forward the email. Giving the gift, literally, of LIFE, creating tangible connection to others and protecting us all for possibilities just feels great.
Hi All,
Almost 29 years ago my wife, Nan, was about to give birth to our first daughter, Erin. I was asked to give blood in case either needed it in delivery. It was a new program for autologous donation which meant that you could give your own blood and have it ear-marked for yourself, or designate that exact pint of blood be given to someone specific with your blood type. Fortunately all went well and our growing family didn't need it.
I'd had preconceived notions of giving blood that ranged from my passing out at the thought to my blood saving the world. What I learned is that the reality of donating is: it's quick, easy, virtually painless, and actually healthy for the donor as it thins the blood and supports the spirit. Knowing that your contribution may have immeasurable impact for someone, known or unknown, is powerful and humbling. Donating regularly became an idea ... and then a habit. So just about every 2 months, for 29 years now, I've been showing up at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the hospital where it all began, to give.
The value of that decision is validated annually at Cedars' recognition dinners, when the donors, staff and recipients meet to exchange their extraordinary, life affirming stories. Having donated, and then encountering a well-spoken and appreciative teen who's needed transfusions weekly since birth, meeting the family whose child is not only alive but inspired to a life of giving, or hearing the testimonies of accident victims made whole because they could receive needed blood has been a huge gift to me... besides, you get great cookies.
This June, at our recognition dinner, because I'd hit a milestone, I was honored to address this incredible, too-small group of about 200 committed blood donors. Most were as passionate as I about the chance to make a difference in life or death situations. Many were being acknowledged for giving whole blood, platelets or other blood products.
I was being recognized for donating more than 20 gallons of blood over the past 29 years, the most of any donor in Cedars-Sinai history. Twenty gallons is enough to have exchanged my blood over 13 times. Please understand, this is NOT about me. I'm hoping to impress upon you
a BELIEF that I was given and a way to ACT on it: a small act of giving done by many "ones" can
multiply to infinite lives saved or improved.
My talk was well received since is was like preaching to the choir. So I decided to use a megaphone to a larger audience: This email.
Blood reserves are way down and the need continues to rise. Imagine a situation of a loved one needing blood and there not being enough. What a terrifying thought.
Everyone in that room that night had their own initial WHY for involvement. Those WHYs have grown as we've seen the results of our actions. I'll bet that many of you can relate to a time when either you or someone for whom you care was given another chance at life because blood was available.
Here's where YOU CAN START:
1. Call Cedars-Sinai, 310-423-5346, and make an appointment to give. Take at least one person with you. The staff is incredibly professional and sensitive in making everyone's experience wonderful.
2. Business owners and managers who would like to make a difference:
Call Veronica Bauer, Coordinator, Blood Donor Recruitment, Cedars-Sinai Blood Services, 310-423-3530 to arrange a MOBILE UNIT to come to your business location. Beyond the good you are doing, your neighbors, clients and customers can see your positive community involvement parked right there at your business. As a form of team building, the bonding within your organization goes to a whole higher level. Think about it. There's something wonderful in this experience for everyone.
Thank you for taking action on this urgent need. You have been and are appreciated.
I was encouraged that when we feel our acts are too small to make a difference, to hold the thought that even our smallest act of goodness is significant. Our smallest acts may only be like drops of water.. but they are not like drops of water on a hot stove. Rather, they are part of the whole, the drops that make up the ocean.
Thank you, whether forwarding this email to others or getting involved yourself, for taking action on this urgent need. You have been and are appreciated.
Sincerely,
Barry
Tel: 818-769-4300
Fax: 818-980-8181
11684 Ventura Blvd. #747
Studio City, CA., 91604
Barry Eisen
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