Come Donate Blood with Us

I usually have gone in to donate blood by myself. My dad set a good example of donating regularly, and I picked up the good habit from him. Being a blood donor is one of the easiest ways to give back. The whole process usually takes an hour or less. Do you know what giving up an hour of your time every two months can mean to someone?

Nick could have told you what some of those blood donations meant to him. We will tell you for him. What motivated his dad to come along with me to the donation center a few months ago? It wasn’t just me asking him. Mike used to donate blood, but then had a few bad experiences that deterred him from coming back until he saw me going and thought about it again. “It’s nothing compared to what Nick went through,” was one thing he told me. As we were talking about that before our last donation together, Mike’s dad said he’d like to try with us. This was his first time donating in his life. It's never too late to start.

“Give the gift of life. Donate blood.” – a slogan from the American Red Cross. Giving life… We can tell you how we watched Nick perk back up after blood transfusions. We watched life come back into him. He had more strong and happy days thanks to the donation supply.

This gift can mean that someone who needed a blood transfusion is able to go to the lake a few more times with family.

It can mean adding one more week out of the hospital giving someone time to go for another day full of riding.

Giving blood means helping someone who is in the hospital needing some strength. A patient in the hospital is always related or connected to someone somewhere. I look back at all the times I have given up that time to donate that have helped give other families strength, and thank those who gave up their time to give us a little more time. Unfortunately, it isn't easy enough to just sit here and pump our own blood directly into a family member. Believe me, we’ve asked.

An hour of your time and a pint of blood can mean another smile. Another gut-busting hilarious night. Another shared memory. Another day you never want to end.

The blood bank is a busy place, and I don't even want to guess how many people are touched by its aid each year. I do know that there is constantly a shortage of donors.

If you've never done it, give it a try! If you've had a bad experience, give it another chance. This last time around we were having issues with my flow slowing down, (which just happens sometimes) I was getting a little frustrated thinking “ah man there won’t be enough for it to actually go to someone”. I kept telling myself, “You’ve been in many times before, and you will come back. Plus, you brought two people with you today.”

Oopsies happen, but in the end one normal donation sit is painless and can do wonders for someone else. I could name many more reasons why we donate blood and why you should, too. (Did I tell you it’s actually good for your own health?) Think about it. Better yet, go do it! The American Red Cross is in Norfolk every Tuesday. 

Look at what we found in the garage today. "Give blood. Give life."

Stories for the week

If you have been following our other posts, you know I have shared some experiences with hearts appearing at peculiar times. Well, a few weeks ago we were out having a Kroeger family evening on the lake. At one point I was out on one of the tubes, while Skylar (Nick’s cousin) was on the other. I said to her, “I feel like we should sing something. What should we sing?” She told me she wanted to sing “See You Again.” I used this song on the video I made for Nick last year, and I know many people think of him every time that song comes on. While it may bring tears to the eyes and goosebumps to the arms, a few smiles can surface, too.

Well, Sky and I started singing our hearts out, even as the boat began to pull us along, we sang. After I crawled back up in the boat later, we were just floating and chatting together and my eyes were scanning the sky. I stopped and said to Grandma Bonnie, “Look behind you. I see a heart shape in the sky.” I did not take a photo this time, as I was lost in the moment with a smile on my face. It may not have been quite as surreally distinct as the heart we saw in Oklahoma, but by golly there was still clearly a heart-shape in the sky that night we could see from the boat.

Here are a few photos I did take that night:

Another week we decided on a spontaneous trip where Dad, Nate, and I took the boat with a few friends. When I was posting a few photos later that night, Facebook kept wanting me to tag you, Nick, along with Nate and the others. Every time I would click on a face, your name would appear. Dad and I agreed “That’s interesting.”

11.5 months ago we had to say “see you later” while none of us were ready. You are always on our minds. We will keep sharing stories, think of your laugh, and smile when we can. We love you, Nick. 

Friends, we ask you to join us at the blood donation center. Give the gift of life. Donate blood. You know where to find us. Come with us. Who's first?

-Mike & Jess