The Kindness of Strangers
By Joy Sinnott
Today on my way to donate blood, my mind was occupied with which kindness story I would share at our general meeting coming up. I thought about the trash man I saw picking up a neighbors garbage scattered by the ravaging Javalina. Maybe it would be the kindness of a local builder that donated his services and others to build the Sedona Food Bank. Or the police officer that gave me just a warning when he saw my plates had expired.
I walked up to my appointment at the high school and a young lady cheerfully directed me to where to go. Upon entering high school students manned the desk and checked me in. All the stations were filled with donors and several people were waiting their turn.
While “plugged” into giving my donation, my mind then went to nearly four years ago just after the birth of my grand daughter. My daughter had a late massive post-partum hemorrhage that escalated quickly to her being put on a ventilator and having a very delicate and unusual surgery to stop the bleeding and prevent further embolus’s from going to her lungs and on. Our bodies have about 10.5 pints of blood that keep us alive. The loss of 4-5 pints can put you at risk for death. She received more than her total blood volume and survived. Word spread quickly in the hospital and Doctors and nurses from other floors quietly came and went from her room to see the miracle patient. She soon came off the ventilator and soon went home to the loving arms of her family.
As I lay there, my blood oozing into a bag, I blinked away my tears at the thought of nearly loosing her. I thought about all the people who gave blood, not knowing whom it would be for. They didn’t get recognition. No prizes. Nothing but the knowledge that they were giving such a gift of life to so many in need. This was truly the kindness of strangers.
I glanced over to a young man having his blood taken. He looked like an unhappy weight lifter. He had started his donation a few minutes after me and was finishing a few minutes before me. I said, “Hey, you beat me!” His grin lit up his face. On the other side of the room a previously jovial student was getting ready to have his blood taken. Now away from the other students he seemed solemn. I wondered if they, like me had been reflecting on someone in their life that had needed blood.
When finished I wandered back by the desk with all the students and asked how many students had signed up for donating blood, and there were eleven. I was so proud and grateful that our young people were encouraged and supported in donating blood.
My daughter will never know who she received her gift from, and I will never know if my gift helped save or enhance a life. I’m good with this. Kindness needs no recognition. I plan to give as often as I can when given the opportunity. I challenge those of you that can, to donate blood with me when the next blood drive comes up. Let me know if you are interested and lets be the Kind Strangers, together.
I walked up to my appointment at the high school and a young lady cheerfully directed me to where to go. Upon entering high school students manned the desk and checked me in. All the stations were filled with donors and several people were waiting their turn.
While “plugged” into giving my donation, my mind then went to nearly four years ago just after the birth of my grand daughter. My daughter had a late massive post-partum hemorrhage that escalated quickly to her being put on a ventilator and having a very delicate and unusual surgery to stop the bleeding and prevent further embolus’s from going to her lungs and on. Our bodies have about 10.5 pints of blood that keep us alive. The loss of 4-5 pints can put you at risk for death. She received more than her total blood volume and survived. Word spread quickly in the hospital and Doctors and nurses from other floors quietly came and went from her room to see the miracle patient. She soon came off the ventilator and soon went home to the loving arms of her family.
As I lay there, my blood oozing into a bag, I blinked away my tears at the thought of nearly loosing her. I thought about all the people who gave blood, not knowing whom it would be for. They didn’t get recognition. No prizes. Nothing but the knowledge that they were giving such a gift of life to so many in need. This was truly the kindness of strangers.
I glanced over to a young man having his blood taken. He looked like an unhappy weight lifter. He had started his donation a few minutes after me and was finishing a few minutes before me. I said, “Hey, you beat me!” His grin lit up his face. On the other side of the room a previously jovial student was getting ready to have his blood taken. Now away from the other students he seemed solemn. I wondered if they, like me had been reflecting on someone in their life that had needed blood.
When finished I wandered back by the desk with all the students and asked how many students had signed up for donating blood, and there were eleven. I was so proud and grateful that our young people were encouraged and supported in donating blood.
My daughter will never know who she received her gift from, and I will never know if my gift helped save or enhance a life. I’m good with this. Kindness needs no recognition. I plan to give as often as I can when given the opportunity. I challenge those of you that can, to donate blood with me when the next blood drive comes up. Let me know if you are interested and lets be the Kind Strangers, together.