A Thanksgiving Message From New York Bl...( Your blood donation will save liv...),Health

Your blood donation will save lives this holiday season

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As we approach Thanksgiving, "black Friday" and the holiday season, New York Blood Center (NYBC) calls upon the community to please remember the children and families whose lives are stricken by diagnoses that require frequent blood transfusions for recovery and survival. Among these diseases are: Leukemia and other forms of cancer, thalassemia and aplastic anemias, sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other diseases for which there is no universal cure.

Please take a moment from the holiday shuffle to donate blood. Winter holidays are a time when blood supply decreases while emergency needs remain the same. It is also a time when it becomes more difficult to find precise blood matches for those that are very sick.

The autumn celebration in late 1621 that became known as "The First Thanksgiving" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving) is described by historians as a solemn ceremony of praise and thanks. Today, we are thankful for and recognize those who are alive today due to the selfless giving of blood donors. These people have survived to share Thanksgiving and the holiday season in the company of family and friends. They describe themselves as truly blessed:

Matthew Long is a firefighter who was critically injured when he was struck and pinned by a charter bus while riding his bike to work. He received 68 blood transfusions in the first 24 to 48 hours following his accident.

"Family, friends and strangers came, stepped up to the plate, and donated blood. For that I say thank you. You saved my life," said Long, who returned to the New York City Marathon on November 2 and finished the race.

Rina Evans is happy to celebrate the holidays with her daughter, Ariana, who was born prematurely at only 29 weeks. Blood transfusions helped sustain her dau
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