To the person who saved my Mum's life today

[ChristmassySpice]

Thank you.
You were a blood donor. Like me. I've never really thought about it so much before. It's been a difficult day. And there will be more difficult days to come. I just hope we can manage to have a good Christmas.
But someone saved my Mum's life today.
I'm due to give blood myself early in the New Year. I will never feel happier to repay that gift.

to you, your mum and everyone who donates.

Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas.

Blood donors are amazing, I'd never thought about it before I needed a transfusion after a difficult birth. It's so important to give blood if you can.
Hope you manage to have a lovely Christmas & your mum is ok

Lovely post. Wishing your Mum a speedy recovery.
I think there a shortage at mo, I had a call yesterday asking me to book in my next donation. Everyone please donate if you can and help save a life. X

Thank you! We had a fabulous young doctor who helped us through today. I hope he has a lovely Christmas too.

I’m epileptic so can’t give blood but DH has just given his 26th donation so i’m very proud. Where he donates he gets a text sometimes saying where the blood has gone which is nice ❤️

I also donate, 37 so far, and I love getting the updates about where my blood has gone too!

@SuperMeerkat Hugs to you and your DH. I get those texts too. Mine goes to Premmie Babies. So pleased I can still donate as I'm on medication and thought it may mean I couldn't. Merry Christmas to you!

I'm glad that your mum got what she needed.

I wont make excuses as I had plenty of years prior to getting ill that I could have donated. I never did. Ironically my issue was due to fear of having blood pressure taken (I'm fine with needles and having blood taken but I have a serious BP phobia)

I now take a medication for an autoimmune condition and you have to be 12 months clear of it to be allowed to donate bloody

Blood not bloody

@Fuckingfuckssake I'm about the same number donor wise. I've always wanted to meet the people I donated to and tell them it was no problem to me, but now know it makes a massive difference to the recipient.

@Crunchymum part of my Mums problem is anxiety around BP, so totally understand. Thanks for your message. Hope you're ok soon x

My blood is ultra boring O+ , do they really want it? I always think I might be a big disappointment if I offer it.

Minced, please offer it
Thanks from me to all of you donors. I’m a very grateful recipient of blood

Only 6% of the eligible population donate, it is woefully low percentage.

I think all 6th formers, who are coming up to the minimum donation age should be educated about the importance of donating. I just think it's something that is not even on many people's radar

I am at 43 donations but could be so much more as I had a 5 year hiatus when my dh worked away and I couldn't take my children with me.
My 17 year old has made her first donation, hopefully the first of many.

All the flowers, to you, your Mum and the donor.

I am so grateful for the transfusion I received giving birth. Unfortunately it means I now can’t donate but I always encourage friends and family to do so.

thank you to all the donors out there.

Love to you, your Mum and your donor. You've reminded me that I should try to give blood again - after 3 visits when it took too long to get it out of me they advised me to leave it for a while and it has been a while now, so that's going on the list for the new year.

Hope you and your mum have a merry Christmas
I have my first ever blood donation appointment in February any tips please? I have a massive fear of needles

Best wishes to your mum op.

I gave my first donation a couple of weeks ago. I'd always wanted to but had a thing about the blood coming out - no idea why as if managed to deliver DS with no pain relief.

But finally went with a colleague so I couldn't back out. And I got an email telling me it had been sent to Luton hospital.

I'm now trying to encourage everyone else at work to sign up.

DS shamed me into starting as he donated as soon as he was old enough.

Like a PP said it would be great for an education programme to encourage young donors right from the off.

OP to you and your Mum

Wishing your mum a speedy recovery, OP I hope she's well soon and you have a wonderful Christmas.

A number of people my life when I had my son - I needed 6 transfusions, it was literally a blood bath. I had regularly donated up to that point but won't be able to again. I will forever be grateful to donors for saving me and enabling me to be his mother.

When I worked on ITU I regularly saw how precious blood products were / are.

@ChristmassySpice thank you for your donations.. My son could well have been one of those preemie babies that received your blood donation. It made such a huge difference to him and within 24 hours he was much more alert and active. 21 months on he is a happy active 21 month old so thank you and all those others who donate!

Hope your mum is doing OK now

I hope all goes well with your Mum.

LtJudyHopps

drink lots that day - last time I didn't drink enough I got a bit faint after.

The blood donor care team will be really lovely and take good care of you.

Try not to plan anything too strenuous after.