|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
Senior shares story about why she gives blood
So afraid of needles that she fainted, fell and chipped a tooth upon receiving the obligatory precollege tetanus shot, McGovern said that her sudden commitment to blood drives came about only through her own brush with catastrophe--a motorcycle accident last May. “Ever since I was little, I was terrified of needles,” McGovern said, “so of course I never considered going to a blood drive. After the accident, though, I realized how important blood donations really are.” After being thrown from a friend’s motorcycle when it hit an unanticipated pothole on a slick road, McGovern said she got off lightly with a visit to the emergency room and minor injuries. But her friend at the handlebars, she said, was unfortunately not so lucky. The victim of severe hemorrhaging and internal injuries, McGovern’s friend required 86 units of blood (approximately 86 pints) throughout the course of his five surgeries, plus an additional 38 units of blood products, including platelets and red cells, during his extensive recovery. “It’s a miracle that he’s alive,” McGovern said, “and I realize that the reason he is is because donors--complete strangers--took the time and extra effort to give blood.” McGovern, who participated in her first blood drive last July and who plans to donate blood again in the CAA “Have a Heart” drive on campus Wednesday, Nov. 16, said that she also recruits donors for the drive by word of mouth. “I tell everybody I know how important it is to give blood,” she said, “and I tell them why.
“Donating blood always seemed so remote to me before, because everyone walking around campus looked so healthy it was hard to imagine anyone needing blood,” she said. “But, the need for donations really hit home when my friend almost died and required so much to live.” Now dedicated to replenishing at least the amount of blood used by her friend, McGovern also participates in the Blood Bank of Delaware’s “Hero Card” program, a system that allows donors to give blood in honor of a specific person--in this case, Meghan’s friend, David. “For me to know that I am giving back at least what he took is really important,” she said. “I don’t have a lot of other causes, so this is the least I can do.” The upcoming CAA blood drive at the University is set for 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Multipurpose Rooms A, B and C of the Trabant University Center. Those unable to donate that day can give blood at another time by making an appointment with the Blood Bank of Delmarva by calling (302) 737-8405. Article by Becca Hutchinson To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
|
|
