A Lifesaving Journey: My Commitment to Blood Donation ??
A Lifesaving Journey: My Commitment to Blood Donation ??
How It All Began – A Personal Turning Point
My journey as a blood donor began when I was just 18 years old, studying in college. It wasn’t something I had planned; rather, it was a moment of necessity, realization, and responsibility that sparked my commitment.
One day, while home for semester break, I learned that my family was struggling to find a matching blood donor for my mother’s sudden and unplanned surgery. They had tried several relatives, but no one was a match. Unbeknownst to me, they hadn’t informed me earlier because I was staying far away at college, and they didn’t want to worry me.
I was deeply upset when I found out. Without hesitation, I told them to check if my blood type was a match—and it was. We both share B+ blood group. That was my first-ever blood donation—not at a camp, not for a stranger, but for my own mother. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a lifelong commitment.
A Promise to Give, Again and Again
After that first donation, I didn’t donate blood for a while—until I joined the workforce.
One day, I noticed a request for blood pinned on a company notice board. The donor was needed on the other side of the city, and something within me urged me to go. I took the time, made the journey, and donated.
The experience left a lasting impression on me. The patient’s husband, overwhelmed with gratitude, treated me like a savior. He walked me to the bus stand, offered me something to drink, and kept thanking me repeatedly. That moment changed something in me.
I made a silent oath—that whenever there was an ask for blood, I would step up.
From Occasional Donations to a Life Mission
For years, I donated whenever I could. Initially, it was only when someone personally needed it. Later, I started participating in blood donation camps organized by companies.
While living in the US, I encountered a common restriction: blood donation centers would not accept donations if you had visited certain foreign countries in the past 12 months. To work around this, I made sure to donate before visiting India.
Over the last 3-4 years, I have committed to donating every 3-4 months, making it a recurring habit. I recently completed my 44th donation, and my goal is to reach 50 soon—and keep going for as long as I can.
Inspiring Others to Join the Cause
During the COVID-19 pandemic, my wife joined me in this noble cause. She has already donated 6 times and is now a regular donor. Her journey hasn’t been easy, as she faced pushback from family members, but her determination to save lives keeps her going.
At Intuit, where I previously worked, we celebrated the culture of blood donation with leaderboards and milestones—recognizing employees who completed 5, 10, or more donations with small trophies and encouragement. It was a community effort, and it made me realize how small acts of giving can inspire many more.
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The Science & Benefits of Blood Donation
Beyond saving lives, blood donation has real health benefits for the donor. Here are some fascinating facts:
Some Trivia on Blood Donation! ??
On a Mission to Spread Awareness
I believe there is nothing wrong in sharing our blood donation milestones—after all, the more people see it, the more awareness we create. Some of my family members may not be keen on me talking about it, but I will keep going because every post, every conversation, and every action might inspire someone to step forward.
A special mention to my friend Chetan Makam, who is senior executive at Terumo (a leading blood solutions company). He has always encouraged and appreciated my efforts to spread awareness about blood donation, further reinforcing my resolve.
Your Turn to Save Lives!
If you’ve never donated blood, take this as a sign to start. It’s a selfless act with no real downside, and you might just be the reason someone gets a second chance at life.
?? Here’s how you can take action today:
? Find a local blood donation center near you and book an appointment.
? Encourage a friend or family member to donate—first-time donors often need a little push!
? Share your own blood donation story—you never know who you might inspire.
? Drop a comment below if you've donated before. How many times have you donated? What’s your most memorable blood donation experience?
Let's spread awareness and keep the flow going! ??
Would love to hear from fellow donors! How many times have you donated? What’s your most memorable blood donation story? Drop a comment below!
#BloodDonation #GiveLife #44thDonation #NationalBloodDonationMonth #SaveLives #HealthyLiving #DopamineBoost
Technical Director
3 周Excellent work, Raju. My memorable experience has been to donate to my colleague's mom. She also received blood from other 2 colleagues. It turned out to be a classic replay of "Amar Akbar Anthony" blood donation scene and blood donation goes beyond religion and is a noble cause.
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Global Blood Solutions @ Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies & Managing Director & Board Chair @ Terumo Penpol
4 周Thank you Raju - a noble endeavor that saves lives - I hope other take inspiration from your journey and become blood donors Blood is essential medicine and the need for blood is constant #donateblood