The George Bailey Effect

by Lauren Ward Larsen, guest blogger, grateful blood recipient, President and Chief Ambassador of the Foundation for America’s Blood Centers, and author of Zuzu’s Petals

While reading the paper one morning, Manuel, a thirty-something Mexican immigrant, learns that there’s a local blood shortage.  Having never donated blood before, Manuel decides to “help my fellow Americans.” Afterward, he describes the experience as “incredible,” and from that day forward, Manuel is a regular blood donor—every eight weeks.

A new mom goes into multiple organ failure and uncontrollable bleeding shortly after an emergency caesarian section is performed to save her baby’s life. Pints of blood are pumped into her body as fast as her veins can accept them.  One of those pints is Manuel’s. Several weeks later, Manuel’s next blood donation appointment comes up and—again—the new mom receives his blood. She leaves the hospital after six weeks with a new mission: help recruit more volunteer blood donors so that others can be given the same second chance at life she was given.

In 2004, the new mom returns to the same hospital that had treated her and walks into a room filled with news cameras and people. Seated in the first two rows are twenty-two of her actual blood donors from years earlier.  Among them is Manuel, who has a bouquet of flowers in his lap—a gift for the woman whose life he helped save. When he’s called to the podium to meet the recipient of his blood, he embraces her, then her husband, and then their daughter, now four years old.

Years pass and the recession hits, forcing many to foreclose on mortgages they can no longer afford. Among them is Manuel. The stress over losing his family’s home manifests itself as serious physical ailments, and he is hospitalized. His wife pleads with him to forget the home, that the health of their family is more important than any material possession, houses included. He remains despondent, but there is one memory that pulls him through his darkest days: giving a hug to that little girl who has a mother—thanks to him. It takes months, but Manuel is able to overcome his health issues and move on with his life.

That Christmas, the new mom receives a card from Manuel announcing that he’ll soon be a grandfather. She sends baby gifts for him to pass along to his pregnant daughter, but when they arrive, Manuel sets them aside.  “I’m saving the gifts for the baby shower,” he writes to her.  “Before giving them to my daughter, I’d like to tell everyone how our two families are connected through blood donation.” The new mom reads this, and cries. Yes, she thinks, we are connected. Then she laughs as she pictures everyone at the baby shower all heading down to the local blood center together to give blood when the party ends.

Thinking back on this story, I am reminded of the scene from It’s a Wonderful Life—my all-time favorite movie—in which George Bailey begins to understand the depth of connection he had to so many people, and vice versa. “Strange, isn’t it?” his guardian angel, Clarence, says to him. “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”

This is a lesson I know well—ever since receiving more than 200 pints of blood ten years ago during the birth of my daughter, Clare.  And I’ll forever be grateful that Manuel’s life touched mine.

For more information on Lauren, visit her bio page on her website (check out the professional and not so professional background info). To purchase Zuzu’s Petals, A True Story of Second Chances, go to the Zuzu’s Petals page on her website or to Amazon.com.

Headed in the Right Direction

Nick Razzo was driving one day, when he realized something was wrong. He had been driving in the wrong direction for the past 40 miles, going north when he was supposed to head south to San Jose, CA.

“I had been feeling fatigued for several months and at first thought it was due to stress, work or that I had been exercising two hours every morning,” said Nick, 53. “But when I drove in the wrong direction that day, I definitely knew it was something more serious and decided to visit the doctor.”

Nick had a liver panel check and after several tests were conducted, was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. He needed a liver transplant.

“I was checked into CPMC (California Pacific Medical Center) in October 2002,” said Nick, father of two sons. “Seven months later on May 3rd, 2003, I received my liver transplant and as a result used blood and lots of plasma. I had also bled internally twice needing more blood.”

Although Nick doesn’t know how much blood he used, a typical liver transplant uses 50 blood components and more.

“I am thankful for all those people who donated blood and saved my life,” said Nick who’s self-employed. “Donating blood doesn’t cost a think and it helps someone. It’s a great way to give something back. Please donate blood if you can donate! You may be helping someone very close to you or some day helping yourself.”

Nick undergoes blood tests every two months to ensure his liver is functioning healthily, and checks in with his doctor every six months.

And after all that Nick has been through, his outlook on life is positive and upbeat. “I wake up every day and live for that. You don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Nick. “With the economic downturn, I took a hit and was depressed for awhile but then I thought, why get depressed when I have a wonderful wife and two kids. I should be happy!”

Nick is currently doing well and in high spirits. He also helps spread the awareness about blood donation and how it saved his life by speaking at several events in the community.

BCP wishes Nick continued health, and thanks him for taking up the cause of blood donation!

photo from faramarz