52 years ago, I graduated as a Registered Nursing Assistant and started working in a London, ON, hospital. After marrying my sweetheart, we moved, and I continued my career as a nurse in Windsor. Then my father-in-law became ill due to a stomach ulcer and needed several units of blood. Now I began to think, maybe I should donate back. Jesus does remind us that “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” So, I stopped in at the blood donor clinic, but at my first appointment they turned me away as my iron was too low. Day after day I continued to see the need for donations of various kinds. As our children came along, I became a stay-at-home mom. After one of my miscarriages, I also needed a unit of blood and then my own father had a stomach bleed, and he needed several units of blood. This again made me think about trying to donate. A year after our last child was born, I was successful in donating my first unit of blood. After this it was off and on as to whether or not my iron was high enough, but the nurses kept encouraging me to come and try again. Several years later I had a hysterectomy and guess what? I don't think I have ever been turned away again. Last week, Friday, October 3, 2025, I gave my 150th blood donation.
