The art of being an organ donor and blood donor was bought home to me this week - as I read about a friend-of-a-friend who has selflessly given not blood, but one of her kidneys to someone else.
A PR guru, she became involved with the ex-pat when she took on his fundraising to pay for his operation back in the UK. A year on, money raised, friendship cemented... no sign of a compatible organ. Step up our heroine who decided in for a penny, she might as well be tested for compatibility herself. She was a match.
Patient A now resting at home ever-so slightly lighter than she was at the beginning of last week, Patient B doing really well and loving his new internal fixture, due home any day.
Now that's inspired, nay, shamed me into giving blood again. It's been years since my last donation, not entirely through outright neglect. First I had a tattoo, which puts you out of the picture for a year, then I had a baby, natch.
So. Donating blood I go. And the next and nearest sessions for me will be at the Holy Trinity Church Hall in Carlton Road, Redhill, on Wednesday 7th April - 2.00-4.30pm, then from 5.30-7.45pm.
Whatever your blood-type, it's needed. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just the rare types that are needed most desperately - simple mathematics means there are more patients with a common blood type.
For more information on blood donation and other sessions near you, check out www.blood.co.uk - you have to be registered and book yourself in advance.
And for info about organ donation and how to register, start with this website.
If you donate blood, or sign up for organ donation, it's quite simple - you'll save lives.
Katrina
Thank you for reading TheBestOfRedhill and TheBestOfReigate Blog. If you are LOCAL to Redhill or Reigate and VOCAL about Surrey- we'd love to hear from you. Come and blog with us: email redhill@thebestof.co.uk or reigate@thebestof.co.uk
TheBestOfRedhill and TheBestOfReigate Blogs - what's on, what's new, what's done, what's you
Katrina is a freelance writer and photographer with The Little White Studio.