"Giving blood is a part of life... For me, it's as common as going to the mailbox"
Jeannette Taylor, RN
Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, MD
Pulmonology
"I am 51 years old, and I have been a donor since 1975 when I turned 18. My father was an advocate and donor for the Blood Bank. I grew up knowing the importance of life-saving blood donations. My father gave regularly and would show up whenever someone in our community was having surgery requiring blood or was in an accident and needed to have blood donations made for them. I guess I just followed the example that he set for me.
I didn't worry about the blood supply or quality when my husband was in an accident and might have needed a transfusion. I didn't worry about the blood supply or quality when my mother had a Carotid endarterectomy in the 80's. I didn't worry about an adequate blood supply when my father required open heart surgery in the 90's. I trusted the Blood Bank and the quality of blood supplied. My family and friends know that they can call on me for blood donations when needed. If I can't give, I'm on the phone looking for someone who can or, at the very least, I'm giving up a credit from my own account to cover their needs.
As a nurse, I know how critical blood products can be. When somebody's teenager is pulled from a car wreck and they need blood, you just don't know how desperate a situation that can be for that family. Giving blood is not something I even think about. It's as common as going to the mailbox, really. It's just a part of your life. It's easy to give knowing that my body will just make more blood... for my next donation."
Jeannette Taylor, RN
Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, MD
Pulmonology
