Save lives without risking your own or opening your wallet. All it takes is a blood donation to make the difference for a trauma patient or people who suffer from life-threatening blood disorders like aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia and leukemia.
The 28th Annual County Employees Blood Drive kicked off at the County Administration Center Thursday in the first of five County-sponsored events in April. The drive is open to employees and the public.
Border Health Assistant Juan Olmeda organized the County blood drives for years never dreaming he would need large amounts of blood. The 54-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia in 2009. As part of his treatment, he needed two pints of blood a day. In all, he used at least 20 pints. The donations gave him the time he needed to find a matching bone marrow donor.
Olmeda says he’s lucky to come from a large family. His seven brothers and sisters were tested but only his younger sister, Lourdes, proved to be a 100 percent match for a bone marrow transplant. He underwent the transplant in 2010 and Juan returned to work early last year.
Olmeda is still on medication but he says his body is getting better day by day. He sees the doctor once a month instead of twice a week. “Thanks to this blood drive, I was able to work again. I’m not 100 percent but I’m going that way little by little.”
Once again, he’s back at the forefront in organizing the County blood drive but with a renewed appreciation on the important of giving blood. He says you never know when you’re going to be on the other side and need blood rather than give blood. “It’s really simple to give,” said Olmeda. “Everyone has blood, it’s a way to give back and help people at the same time.”
The San Diego Blood Bank needs 400 pints of blood every day to meet demand. Although 80 percent of us will need a blood transfusion during our lifetime, only 5 percent of the U.S. population donates blood. County Supervisor Greg Cox has been a donor for more than 30 years and has given 116 pints of blood. “Every year, the San Diego Blood Bank depends on us and other donors for supplies,” said Supervisor Cox. “This is another way that we, as public servants, can make a difference. By donating blood, we can save lives.”
Donors can make an appointment on line or walk in to make a donation. As Olmeda says, you never know when you might need help. After all, if something happened to you or a loved one, wouldn’t you want to make sure there was enough blood?
