When I was 17, my mom asked if I wanted to come with her to Canadian Blood Services to donate blood. I said no.
At the time, I never could have imagined how much that simple decision would come to mean to me.
My mom has been helping others and giving back since she was 17. She has always taught me the importance of showing up for others and making a difference in any way you can. When she encouraged me to donate, she was sharing something she had believed in for years. I just wasn’t ready to understand its impact yet.
Then, one month after my 19th birthday, I was diagnosed with hemochromatosis.
When I first received my diagnosis, I didn’t fully understand what it would entail. I soon learned that I would need to donate blood regularly, every 82 days, for the rest of my life.
At first, that was a lot to process. But eventually, my perspective completely changed.
I realized that something I had once said no to could become one of the most meaningful things I would do for the rest of my life.
Every 82 days, I have the opportunity to help save lives.
Today, donating blood is something I genuinely look forward to. Every time I walk through the doors of Canadian Blood Services, I am reminded why I keep coming back. I am welcomed with open arms. The staff make sure I am comfortable throughout the entire process, and the volunteers remember my name and details about me. It feels like more than donating blood; it is being part of a community.
My diagnosis changed my life, but it also changed the way I see the impact one person can have.
I used to think donating blood was something to fear. Now, I see it as one of the simplest and most powerful ways to give back. What takes a small amount of your time can mean everything to someone else and their family.
So, perhaps at 17, I was afraid to give back. But today, I understand that every time I donate, I’m not only helping myself, I’m helping someone have another tomorrow.
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone I pass on the street, it would be this: don’t be afraid to donate blood. It isn’t something to fear. It is an opportunity to make a difference.
