Give Blood

Today there was a blood drive in town.  In the past year I have become a regular blood donor but today I decided to take this commitment a step further, I gave platelets.  I was a little nervous about it but I just told myself that I needed to do this to help someone else. 

Tonight when I got home I went online to find some more information about donating platelets, here is what I found:

Many lifesaving medical treatments require platelet transfusions. Cancer patients, those receiving organ or bone marrow transplants, victims of traumatic injuries, and patients undergoing open heart surgery require platelet transfusions to survive.

Because platelets can be stored for only five days, the need for platelet donations is vast and continuous.

Platelet transfusions are needed each year by thousands of patients like these:

• Heart Surgery Patient, 6 units
• Burn Patient, 20 units
• Organ Transplant Patient, 30 units
• Bone Marrow Transplant Patient, 120 units

After reading this, what I did today seams like such a small part.

During my donation I was feeling light headed and cold.  

Although I felt a little discomfort and it definitely took a lot longer to donate, it was worth it in the end.

After reading what I found I now know that I will be going back to donate platelets again.

Reminders

I am writing this post for all of your support.  I know I am not the only one out there who does this.  We all write our little reminders for ourselves but how far do we go with it?  

Do you find yourself writing notes for things that you should be remembering? 

I keep this note in my glove box and whenever I get near 1/4 tank of gas I have to put this note out to remind myself to get gas.  (No, I have not run out gas yet so it must be working, but I have been really close)  When I fill up, the note goes back in the glove box for the next time.  I also have notes in there like, Stop at Megan's, Stop at the Grocery Store...  Then of course when you get to the grocery store you have to pull out yet another list.  

So I am looking for all of your comments to join me in the "Reminders Support Group." 

Let me know what is the craziest reminder you ever wrote for yourself?

I think I am going to go to my car right now and write myself a new note,

"Clean My CAR."

Today I got to meet Kristin!!

Today I went to hear Kristin Steede speak.  I was so looking forward to this all week.  I talked Tracy into going with me.  When I told her that I brought my camera she asked me why and I told her I wanted my picture taken with Kristin, she told my I was nuts!!  I had to recruit Connie to take the picture for me.   

Kristin's talk was amazing.  She talked allot about what her and her Mom went thru to get onto the show and then the first day that they were there she and her Mom were saying, "What did we get ourselves into?"

She had a question and answer thing afterwards and then gave away some free one month memberships to Medford Therapy and Fitness.  Tracy answered a question and won!!  

It was allot of fun and I am glad my best friend Tracy went with me. 
Thanks Tracy!!

Interesting Morning

I was woke up early this morning by an unfamiliar sound outside my bedroom window.  What could it be?  No, It can't be!!  It must be a dream.  Chris and I get out of bed a little while later and I ask him, "Did you hear a quacking sound outside the bedroom window this morning?"  If only I had gotten a picture of his expression right there, it would have been priceless.  Well we start going about our morning..coffee, breakfast and then I take a step outside on the back deck to see how warm it is and there it is, the Aflac duck!

I ran to get my camera and as soon as he saw me he took off in a run into the woods so I didn't get a good picture of him.  So where did he come from?  Turns out the neighbor, my brother, got a new pet and is having a hard time keeping him in the yard.  Have you ever had to call a neighbor to tell them that their pet duck is in your yard?  

Then I go out back to let my trusted friend off of his chain and I am worried that he is going to chase the duck around the yard.  What can I do to occupy the dogs attention.  AhHa, I have been saving a ham bone in the freezer for just this occasion.  YUM.

And then, the plot thicken.....

As I am in the house typing this blog entry, another guest arrives in my yard.  It's the neighbor, and he came with a net.  I found out that it is a girl duck and her name is Angel.

No luck on the duck search.  Maybe it will show up tomorrow morning again.

***********UPDATE*********
Several hours later.....Angel has been found!!!