Apheresis Donations

When times are tight (which is often!) I still want to be charitable and help people and so, many years ago I found a way to do a good deed that costs me nothing but time, and yet it's a donation that is priceless. I  donate apheresis. This is a kind of blood donation that separates platelets from your blood to give to  cancer and leukemia patients who have low immunities. One donation of apheresis has the same amount of platelets as 5 units of whole blood. And because you get back the rest of your blood, you can donate 24 times a year! It's something I've been doing (and trying to do at least once a month) since 1989. I first found out about it after a whole blood donation. It takes quite a bit longer than a regular blood donation but it is well worth the time.( For me it's a nice opportunity to sit back and watch a movie without my kids interrupting!) I urge anyone who has ever donated blood to give it a try.  I'd give more info, but this site does a better job than I can!

http://www.givelife2.org/donor/apheresis.asp

While the above link is  a US site, I'm sure that any Red Cross, hospital or doctor can tell you where to go if you would like to be a donor.