Getting a Transfusion and Presents for Christmas

During my recent cancer treatment, I received blood transfusions from an anonymous stranger in Winnipeg.  Whoever the donor was, he/she saved my life.  If you would like to do the same for someone else, and you live in Canada, you can contact Canadian Blood Services (1-888 2 DONATE, or http://www.blood.ca) to make an appointment.

Further, if my lymphoma were to relapse, the standard treatment would be salvage chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant.  If you are willing to sign up as a potential stem cell donor (a much more involved process than donating blood), you can get information at the following website:  http://www.onematch.ca.

Although I was a regular blood donor in my younger years, I knew that lupus precluded me from donating blood.  (There are too many antibodies in my blood.)  However, I was disappointed to learn that lymphoma now precludes me from being an organ donor as well.  If you’re healthy though, you can help in a myriad of ways.  It takes time and energy, but how cool is it to be able to save someone’s life?!