Amazed

The day after Wyatt was born, my sister in law came down to the Children's Hospital and donated blood for him to use if he needed it.  We also had some close friends help with getting a couple of other people to come down and donate.  Ever since that blood was donated, Wyatt has needed to have 5 blood transfusions.

Last week when Wyatt recieved a blood transfusion, he used the last of the blood that had been directly donated to him.  Our friends arranged for another person to come donate, and the timing would have worked perfectly, but her blood wasn't compatible with Wyatt's.  We needed to get someone else down here to donate for Wyatt.  So we decided to put a post on facebook to see if any of our friends had O- blood, and if they did, would they be willing to come down and donate for our son.  I said:

"The blood that was generously donated for Wyatt on Monday isn't compatible with his blood and he used the last of the good donated blood yesterday. If anyone in the LA area has O- and is willing to donate, please contact me ASAP by message or text (626-641-****) thanks!!!"

Eleven of my friends reposted my plea for help, or wrote one of their own to see if they had any friends around here that could donate.  And a friend of Wyatt's Godmother is a teacher and sent out a mass email to all of her co-workers to see if any of them could donate AND she told her students.

The response that I recieved was almost unbelievable.

11 people that I did not know, texted me about wanting to donate for him and about 5 people called me.
The thing about it that was pretty amazing to me... I only knew 1 of these individuals.
These were mostly friends of friends, willing to help a complete and total stranger.
How cool is that?!

On Friday, 4 people came to the Children's Hospital and donated for Wyatt, and on Saturday I got a random text from someone I didn't know telling me that she had just donated for Wyatt and if we needed more, that when she was eligable to donate again she would come back down.  The remaining people that offered to donate, we have asked to wait until the middle of June to do so, so that his blood supply can last for as long as possible.
{The blood donated directly for Wyatt is only good for him to use for 30 days.  They will then release it for anyone in need to go ahead and use it so that it doesn't go bad.  So, even if the blood isn't compatible for him, or if he doesn't use it, it's still a win-win because it still goes to a child in need}

Today Wyatt needs another blood transfusion because his hemoglobin levels are low once again and it's awesome to know that because of these caring people that I will probably never meet, he has direct donor blood that he can use.

So now I'm going to do a little pitch.
If it's been awhile since you donated blood, or if you've never in your life donated blood and you are able to do so, PLEASE go donate.  The Red Cross's blood supply is low and they are in serious need of donors.  Or if you have a Children's Hospital near you, they are always in need of donors.  You don't need to know your own blood type in order to donate.  Donating blood helps save lives and I promise you will feel awesome for doing it. :)