A special holiday gift from the heart

By Priscilla Geissal
Correspondent
We often see the “Big Red Bus” or other mobile units parked in various locations; and, if you are like me, we say to ourselves, “I ought to stop and give blood today.” Maybe we do—maybe we cannot at that particular time, but that big bus reminds us that some things can only come from one person to another.
Recently, I made one of my trips to the bus when it was parked at Walgreens at the corner of Southwest 60th Avenue and State Road 200. It is my most familiar location since I pass there at least once nearly every day. This time was not very different from other times, but it was still special to me.
Slightly over a year ago, my husband had 18 transfusions in a 12-day period. I still am amazed that he lived through that particular ordeal; but thanks to the generosity of kind people who donate blood on a regular basis, he is still “alive and kickin’” as he likes to say.
This time there were three guys working in the bus, and they were all amazing. The one who worked with me is Greg Gallagher, who is a retired U.S. Navy corpsman whose wife told him that being in his 50s is just too young not to be still working. So, he now is working with those who are willing to give a very personal gift to an anonymous person who will need their help.
As the New Year of 2012 begins, I would personally like to encourage those who can to do this very simple act that could well be the life or death difference for another person. It does not take long…it is (relatively) painless…you get juice and cookies…and often there are other perks like movie tickets and gift cards. The latter is the least important, but it does show how the local businesses participate by sponsoring this special need that we always have in our community.
When you see the “Big Red Bus” or any of the other locations where you can be of help to another human being, please think about how valuable your contribution is to others who have no way of thanking you.
So…on behalf of my family and many others who still have a loved one because of the generosity of those who give … thank you! Your gift from your heart is appreciated from the bottom of our hearts. Happy New Year!
 

Priscilla Geissal

The Big Red Bus at Walgreens.