December is all about gift-giving. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. This year I plan to give the gift of life by donating blood, and I want you to join me.

Someone needs blood every two seconds. Blood banks across the nation (and beyond) are ready to take your donation and ship it to a facility where another nurse will administer your blood to his patient and monitor her as you save her life.

As an oncology nurse, hanging blood was a daily duty. As I prepped the tubing, machine, and patient, I always thought about the donor. Who was she? Why did she donate? What is her story?

2010 marked my very first time to donate blood. I don’t know what took me so long! When was the last time you donated blood? What’s stopping you? Let’s join together throughout the month of December to give the gift of life this year. Find your local blood donation center. Don’t forget to leave a comment after you donate so we can celebrate our collective life-saving success.