The Christmas light-up at Orchard Road is up and running and the passing days signal the onset of the end of the year but not before the festivities of Christmas, Hanukkah and Hari Raya Haji. Corny as it is at times like this i reflect on the message of all those cheesy made-for-TV Hallmark movies where the message is that it is more important to give of yourself than to get material gains.
Not one to be left out of the do-good-for-your-karma cycle I went to donate blood yesterday. I am not a regular donor, having donated only 4 times in all my years, but my sister who accompanied me is. She has been a regular donor for the past 5 years and yesterday she reached her 20th donation. Now everyone has reasons to give or hold on to their blood. Ours is very personal. My maternal grandfather had O- blood and the last ten years of his life were marked with hospital visits and blood transfusions. This was especially the case in the month prior to his passing. It took the time, effort, consideration, and kindness of many people to keep him comfortable and keep him with us for those few days and our whole family cannot forget all that those nameless donors have done for us. For those of you who may be unaware O- is one of the rarer blood groups.
Quick side trip to some blood donation facts:
- About 1% of Singapore’s entire population are blood donors
- Male donors outnumber female donors
- 42% of the population is O
- 28% of the population is B
- 24% of the population is A
- 6% of the population is AB
- 99% of all people are rhesus positive
If you are more interested in the facts, figures, information on where to donate blood please check out the HSA site.I would urge all who can to give blood. Hospitals here require about 300 units of blood each day and during school holidays and festivals the donations do face a drop. Accidents however go on the rise. If you are worried about it hurting then let me assure you that the most painful part of the blood donation yesterday was the pin prick to my finger to test for the iron content in my blood. The entire process took less than half an hour and they gave me a stress ball, a diary for 2007, a cup of Milo and a cheese sandwich to thank me for my time and blood.
I hope that at least some of you who read this post will give blood at least once and if you are so moved to continue with your donations on a regular basis as i plan to do.
Tis the season to …….. Give yourself the gift of knowing that you have helped someone who truly needed it.
