Virtual Blood Drive

As a High School student graduating and expecting to go to Rutgers New Brunswick in the fall, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful the meaning of life can be. Earlier in late fall of 2024, my medical club (Future Healers Club, Rutherford NJ), had hosted a blood drive via Vitalant. I mean it when I say, I had never in my life expected a routine of volunteers to show up, not for extra credit, not for any other reward. (Well, athletes did get to skip practice and students were skipping their boring classes). My point is, no student was expecting a reward other than saving a life, and from my small school? It was eye-opening how much students my age had cared, I literally thought the event would be a flop and some teachers would just show up because no student did…But no. We ended that day with 30+ units of blood! It might not be a lot, but for a first time? I think we did great. As a family member who was diagnosed with leukemia last year, I never knew personal this could get until I would visit him after his treatments needing transfusions. It made me understand that it’s not just a donation, it’s a life. Something many of us take for granted until it’s a loved one—or us. In a larger scale, I can’t help but to think about the crisis in Palestine/Israel, where basic humanitarian rights like food and water and even medical care are being stripped from innocent individuals. Blood is not available over there the way it is here, so I think about that every time when I see other incident on the media because it’s truly heartbreaking to receive it so easily when its a life and death situation across the world. Therefore, through this blood drive, I want to encourage not only other people, but myself. There are so many reasons why donating blood is a luxury and it help's us reflect how fortunate we are to help others. Whether it’s a neighbor, friend, or stranger. Soon, I hope to be across the world helping people get access to medical care like me and save lives like a superhero. I want to do my part and make sure it’s available when needed the most Thank you Vitalant for making this possible.