January 11, 2006
Sleep like there is no tomorrow
Up close and personal - the 3 hour drip
O Positive. Five units. Two units of platelets.
If you donate, you save someone's life. Period. It might not be mine, but you still are saving someone. I prayed today to bless the people who were generous enough to take time out of their lives to donate the blood which saved mine. It's overwhelming. It really is. I cry every time I get blood because I never in a million years thought that I would ever need a blood transfusion in my life.
And now I've had fourteen. Fourteen people have blessed me with the gift of life. Fourteen people have then blessed my friends, my family, my Zoe - those who love me as well. Thank you. Thank all of you who have donated. I don't think any of you could ever know how grateful the recipients are. How grateful that I can have another day that I can enjoy. Another day to spend with those I love. It's humbling. Thank you.
I'm home. It's late, but after I finished the last of the transfusions, I came home and showered, and I'm all jammied up.
I'm still overwhelmed. Kari sent me snacky cakes. Julianna sent a huge box of scrapbooking supplies. Sis #1 bought me this kickass cowboy hat. Todd sent a Starbucks card. Sally sent me two books I really wanted. You people are way too sweet to me. I never expected any of this. Too sweet. Too kind.
And my Monkey Boy. Ok. He's totally going to be a keeper. My Monkey Boy sent me an autographed picture of Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. Yellow jumpsuit, sword and all. Someone went way above and beyond the call of duty. I think he just likes me calling him Monkey Boy. Although I could not adore him any more that I already do.
There it was. Just a white 8 x 11 white envelope. So unassuming. I picked it up and opened it. A simple note. And then I smiled and started crying at the same time. A good cry. An exhausted cry. The picture was just the best thing to the end of my brutal three day trip to the hospital.
To come home, so exhausted, bone tired is the only way to describe it, to a huge pile of mail, cards, gifts, well I just feel so loved.
I can do this. You all remind me of why I need to. I cannot thank you enough.
Posted by debutaunt at January 11, 2006 11:56 PMdeb, i'm really thinking of you and sending all kinds of good vibes. hang in there. xo
Posted by: Islay Girl at January 12, 2006 12:10 AMYay for sugary carby goodness! (I'm jealous cuz hubby and I just started Atkins again - No cookie love for us! *weep)
*squeezie hugs* glad you liked 'em! :)
Posted by: Lucky at January 12, 2006 12:23 AM((hugs)) you can so do this
Posted by: cursingmama at January 12, 2006 10:21 AM:) Monkey Boy rocks.
Scan that picture of Uma, that would be cool. :)
Posted by: Angie at January 12, 2006 10:35 AMI'll be thinking of you as I donate a unit of O positive next Tuesday. I had my appointment scheduled already, but it makes it all the more meaningful and important to see how it affects those who receive the blood.
Posted by: Jessica at January 12, 2006 11:54 AMhi there. i've been lurking since you were diagnosed. You are in my thoughts often, even though i don't know you. I, like Jessica, will be thinking of you as I donate on Monday, at 5:30 pm in Evanston, IL. Though my unit of O positive won't go to you, it will go to someone else in need. I just wanted to let you know how you have motivated me to return to donating blood and to stick with a regular donation schedule as my new year's resolution.
Posted by: christina at January 12, 2006 01:52 PMDebu-
D'oh! Forgot to tell you that the kickass cowboy hat is from Susan R. She gave it to me the last time I saw her. :)
Posted by: Sis#1 at January 12, 2006 03:49 PMDeb, if I could donate I surely would. As would Jeff, my hub. And he's O. For some strange reason they just don't want our blood...
But I put up a post asking for valuable fluids from readers.
You can do this!
Given the # of surgeries my son has had, we know the value of that little bag of red. We have always been able to donate directly to him, thankfully. But we have always made sure that the hospital knows, any unused harvested blood, get passed on. Otherwise it is destroyed.
Posted by: Crazy Lady at January 13, 2006 03:44 PMYou are amazing. Keep on fighting!
Posted by: Jenny at January 13, 2006 05:18 PMkeep it up, deb, you're doing great! you've inspired me to do the 39 mile avon walk for breast cancer! every time i think 'OMG, what have i done?' i think about you and your uma thurman cancerass-kicking attitude and i get moving.
Posted by: moxiemomma at January 13, 2006 06:59 PMI will donate again. It's past due. Mahalo for the reminder. If everyone who could, would donate ... just once a year. Or even once every other year. Wow what a difference we could make. You can't buy this gift for a loved one at your local Boutique which to me makes it more alluring.
All kinds of positivities your way. Is Positivities an actual word? See how desperate the world needs you. See. See. I need everything I write edited. Truly may everything positive energy enter your life. You are loved.
I can't donate blood. I'm chronically ill. I nagged my hubby to get back in the habit. Everytime he donates, he comes home and posts these little stickers all over the house that say "I saved 3 lives today". I just hug him and say "Yes you did. Thank you". I told my other friend that is chronically ill about you and she said that her hubby who is needle phobic has begun donating blood on a regular basis. Delaware has a program where the employers pay a nominal fee for each employee to donate blood on a regular basis (I think). If you can't donate, you can have a friend or relative do it for you. So he does. She is so proud of him for donating - she can't, so he does it for her, even though he's terrified of needles.
I just read this entry to my husband and told him - See - people really do appreciate it. He said that's not why I do it - I do it cause it's the right thing to do, but I'm glad it helps. So, from a really big Lug - Why, of course, You're welcome.
linda
Posted by: linda at January 14, 2006 09:30 PM