Archives for September 2009

President’s Welcome - 2009 09 29

by Nora Hirschler, MD, President of BCP, Marin Resident and Foreign Film Buff

Welcome to BCP’s blog!

By training, I’m a pathologist.  I’ve long been interested in blood and also fascinated by the power of this amazing substance to heal and even save lives.  And there’s no substitute for it.  It’s incredible that something our own bodies produce can work to heal another.  I can remember being in medical school (I won’t tell you how long ago) and watching my first blood transfusion.  The patient had a serious blood disorder and required regular transfusions of red blood cells to survive.  Within minutes of receiving that transfusion, you could see the color returning to her face, her stats getting stronger and her prognosis improved.  It truly was amazing.

I feel so fortunate to be a part of Blood Centers of the Pacific, an organization that has been dedicated to helping save lives for more than 65 years! In fact, BCP was the very first blood center in the nation, opening its doors in June of 1941. Back then, transfusions, if attempted at all, could only be done with the donor and the patient lying side by side. Can you imagine what that was like?

We’ve come a long way since then.

I’m very proud of the work we do here at BCP but most of all, I’m proud to know so many Everyday Heroes - our blood donors. All different kinds of people, rolling up their sleeves (literally) to truly make a difference in the lives of others.

Are you one of these Everyday Heroes?

Welcome to Blood Drops - 2009 09 21

by Ashley Messick, Social Media Specialist, lover of San Francisco, generosity, and dogs

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi

The above quote by Mahatma Gandhi is one of my favorites. It is in my email signature and decorates a pair of TOMS shoes (see picture below) that I own.

So why am I here? I’m looking for social investment and how we can connect people who care (like you!) and build a community of changemakers. I consider it a healthy obsession and that’s how I got involved with Blood Centers of the Pacific. We’ve dug into social media strategy, layouts, marketing, and weaving BCP into the world wide web. I love details but I wanted to step back and think big picture and that’s where Gandhi comes in.

Why is it that we all do the good things that we do? Why does someone come and donate blood? Why do we buy organic or bring our own reusable grocery bags? Why do we give our time or money or brainpower to good causes? I think it’s because we have a vision of a better world that we know we can achieve. Because we are the change we want to see in the world.

My vision is to build a community online of the everyday heroes at BCP – our blood donors, the blood recipients, the people who work here at BCP, our volunteers, and everyone in the Bay Area (and anywhere else in the world) who care about saving lives through blood donation and research.

What’s your vision?