No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
This poem speaks to the sacred interconnectedness of all of us, and how very important we all are to each other....your life matters to my life, as my life matters to yours. And what better way to care for one an other than to give blood...the true gift of life!
On September 19 from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm, the OLOL Bloodmobile will be here at St. Luke's. If you've been craving Bluebell, this is your lucky day, as it will be a "pint for a pint" drive...give a pint, get a pint of Bluebell!
How St. Luke's blood plan works is like a savings acoount; a credit for each unit donated is put in our account, and when someone who has received blood or a blood products needs to replace what was received, one call, that's all...just phone or email me, and our coordinator at OLOL will take it from there. Units can be replaced as far away as MD Anderson and St. Jude's! Given the very short shelf-life of blood, the blood or blood products that someone receives may or may not have been from a donor at St. Luke's.
Here are some other questions you may have:
1. If I have had COVID, how long do I have to wait before giving blood?
One can give blood 14 days after the day of the last symptom.
2. Is the blood screened for COVID?
No, COVID is checked through a nose swab, not via a blood sample.
3. Will donors be able to give 2 units on the bus?
Yes.
4. What about platelet donations?
Eligible donors may donate platelets on the bus during the drive.
If you wish to donate 2 units or platelets, it is best to schedule that so that you do not have to wait for the machine to become available. Also, there is only one machine on the bus that can draw both 2 units or platelets, and scheduling will help the personnel from OLOL to plan what and how many supplies to bring. Giving 2 units will take approximately an hour to donate (from screening to coming off of the machine), and platelets an hour and a half. Please let me know if you would be willing to donate in this manner, and a time will be scheduled.
I hope you will prayerfully consider giving of yourself in this way, and supporting the interconnectedness of us all.
Faithfully yours,
