In 1987, my sister Krista and I took our West Pictou school bus to our local church basement where we went arm and arm to donate our first time.
At the age of 20, Krista took sick. She was in the prime of her life. She had just graduated from community college and was quickly given a full-time secretary position which she loved. I was 19.
Our mom and I took her arm and arm to her family doctor who misdiagnosed her with the flu and sent us home. She got violently ill.
We took her arm and arm back to get help at Sutherland Harris Memorial Hospital where she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. She was quickly taken to Aberdeen Hospital to be isolated until she could to be taken to the hospital in Halifax.
Krista kept on smiling and saying she was going to be okay. Her last words to me were" see you later, alligator" I smiled back and said "after a while, crocodile."
She was taken to the QEII hospital, intubated and began to decline.
On her 21st birthday, August 15, 1991, they removed all her fingers and both her beautiful athletic legs because gangrene had set in, taking over her body. She was given many pints of blood to save her life. She fought so hard.
11 days later our heavenly father took her home. Krista was a Christian and she knew she was going to heaven and we would all see each other again.
Krista would have been 55 this year. She was beautiful, kind, funny and athletic, just a joy and loving spirit that everyone loved to be around.
I keep donating my blood in her honor. This is 50 times giving my blood and time. I want to encourage others to give of themselves and to help by donating their bloo.d It's so precious and valuable to others, especially in their time of need.
Krista Grace, your spirit lives on. God bless you all.
