Thanks for giving blood

               

I have wanted to do this entry for awhile.  John and I want to say to each and every one of you who gave blood over the past few months, THANKS FOR GIVING BLOOD.  I don't remember who it was who started encouraging everyone to go out and give blood in honor of John, because at the time my life was so hectic, and John was hanging on to life.  But I do remember that I would get up each morning and check out The John and Krissy J-Land Gazette to see how many had donated blood. 

After John became with it enough to know what was going on, I began to tell him daily the number of those who were donating blood, and he would just shake his head in disbelief.  Actually, he would silently weep each morning.  How could there be such selfless people out there, willing to help others stay alive?

John wants to say to you all "You will never know what it meant to me to know that so many were donating blood in my name.  Thank you for giving blood to the people who need it to survive.  Each time I had a transfusion I knew the blood was not coming from the person who donated in my name, but I felt like it was!  I thought about everyone who donated and it made me glad to know there were so many generous people in J-Land and beyond."

I heard on a TV commercial the other night that "Every two seconds in America somebody needs blood."  This astounded even me.  So I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to all who gave blood, or who got your friends or church members to give blood.  Please pass this message along to your friends who gave blood so that they will know that John appreciated every drop of blood he received.  And I know that others, besides John, those to whom the blood went to, appreciated the blood they received also.  It helped to save their very life.

You all amaze me.  According to The Gazette the last count for those who have given blood is 81 donors.  And those are only you all who want to be counted in the official total.  There are some who have chosen to remain annonymous.  Such an outpouring of love and selflessness.  

John still continues to require blood.  He needs two units (bags) once a week.  This is much better than he was a couple of months ago.  Remember when his illness (AIHA) first started and he was requiring 7 bags of blood daily?  Now the doctors are trying to work on a cure so that one day he won't need the blood at all.  Meanwhile, it's great to know the blood is there.  Great's not the right word.  Imperative.

Okay, I am getting long winded, so I will leave you with one more photo of John getting blood while was in the hospital with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.  He lived because of people like you!  You all rock, you all save lives!

              

Thank you.  From the bottom of our hearts.  John and those like him are alive because you cared.  Krissy :)    

Edit:  It is now Nov. 22 and the no. of blood donations has jumped to 112!  Thanks for continuing to give!  John says "Life is precious and someone will always need it."  Krissy :)