Say Hi To Your New Mass Shooting Policy
Save a life today.
Here’s a quick story that’ll make you squeamish and barfy. I’ve been told—by lovely, caring professionals who happen to be stabbing me and farming my blood—that I have tough-to-find veins. I hear this because, more often than not, it takes the person at the blood bank multiple tries (and sometimes multiple arms) to correctly locate and latch onto my vein. This means I can feel the needle as it swims aimlessly through my arm. It is…less than pleasant. Thus, I give blood about as often as I renew my license plate.
My type is O+, a fact that makes said blood bank weak in the knees. Yet I don’t give as freely as I could or should.
I’d like to rectify that. From now on, when a heartbreaking mass shooting occurs, I’m going to donate my O+. I want you to join me. Our donations most likely do nothing for the victims and their families, but they do something for somebody, and that’s a whole lot better than just sitting here and doing nothing for nobody.
Mass shootings are hard for me to comprehend, and I know nothing I say could ever heal what happened. But if, somehow, a friend or family member of a victim reads this, know that I am with you. You lost a life you love, so I am now trying to save lives the best way I know how: by typing one-handed on Medium while my blood—which my skilled and wonderful nurse tapped on her first try!—begins the long flight to its new home.
A note to people who can give blood but hate needles.
I do, too. Breathe deeply, look away and try to imagine the person your blood will save. It works pretty well. The pain is minimal and you get snacks after. Plus, and this part is important, it literally saves human life. That is nothing short of a miracle.
You can do it. You should do it. Save a life today, and do it again whenever an incomprehensible moron takes them away.
