Where Does a Blood Donation Go?

 

  The young woman in the center of this photo is alive today thanks to twenty-four transfusions of whole blood, platelets, and red cells she received while fighting leukemia. People who receive transfusions rarely, if ever, know from whom they come nor do the donors ever learn who receives their donations.
  On May 3rd, however, at a New York Blood Center dinner, she got to meet six of the two dozen strangers whose donations saved her life. It was an amazing and emotional event for all.
  Only 2% of the population of this country donates blood and blood products. The need is constant and there is no substitute. Please consider becoming a donor; you may never know who you will save, but someone out there will benefit.
  By the way, the six donors in this picture, who were also strangers to one another, have together made more than 1,100 lifetime donations! (Four hundred and fifteen of them were by that familiar-looking guy third from
the left.)

First Dunk 2023

   After some morning volleyball on a warm sunny day, it was time for First Dunk!

Swimsover - 2022

   The pool is scheduled to be closed this afternoon and with the chilly temperature today, there was no way I could get in one last swim. So, Swimsover is officially October 16th. 

  Looking forward to the reopening and First Dunk in May, 2023.

First Dunk -2022

   We opened the pool quite early this year -- April 6th, in fact -- because we needed the cover out of the way so the new patio could be installed. Despite that, it was not warm enough for my first dunk until May 17th. (Sorry, no photo available.)

  With temperatures in the 80s today, Alex joined me for his first dunk of the season. He has been looking forward to being back in the pool since his last swim of 2021.

Swimsover 2021

   Another pool season came to an end with my final swim yesterday. I had hoped for one more today but the pool guys showed up before I got home. 

  Oh well, only about 28 weeks till we open it up again.