First time since my dx that I gave my A+ blood. (BTW, that's the only A+ I ever got!)

The interviewer didn't bat an eye when I told her I had MS.

There was a young man there giving blood for the first time, named Joss. He used to be my piano student, so I know him quite well. Also, he lived across the street from me after he got married and they had their first child. Their little boy was born with a form of dwarfism where the rib cage is so small that, without intervention, it is impossible for them to live more than a couple of years. What happens, is the heart and other organs get squeezed and can't function.

So Joss was there and we talked. First about his siblings. And then about his little boy, Brody, who died a couple of months ago just a couple of days before his 3rd b-day. He had been thru so many horrific surgeries to expand his rib cage and things seemed to be going well for him. They had finally gotten a special wheelchair, because he couldn't walk. Seemed like he was out of the woods.

And then he got pneumonia and wound up in Primary Children's Hospital again. Not many days later, his little sister was lying next to him and suddenly announced, "Brody wants to go live with Jesus," and pointed upward. They are churchgoers, but had never mentioned anything like that to her and were amazed. Brody hadn't told her that -- at least not in words. He had suffered some brain damage during birth and wasn't able to really talk.

What I'm getting at, is that Joss was there to give blood because of all the life-saving transfusions little Brody had received during his short lifetime. He said it was time to "give back."

I am proud to know Joss.

What a heart-warming story, Twink. Made me cry.....

How sweet of that Dad to give back. I'm sure it's something he can do to make his grief easier to bear.

Thanks, Kelly. When you sit and talk with somebody like Joss, who just buried his little son, sure makes your personal problems seem miniscule.

What a heartwarming story Twink. Good on you! I do want to make you aware of the fact that you did give away that A+, not receive it.

I gave blood several times in the last few years when I wasn't pregnant or had recently miscarried. I have B- blood which is not very common, so they are always so appreciative when I do donate. I remember when I was first diagnosed we weren't allowed to donate. I'm glad they've become much more lax on their rules. It's a wonderful feeling especially when I'm walking through the halls of our hospital and I see a patient receiving a transfusion. Summertime is often when the Red Cross is low on blood. So if anyone is thinking of donating, now is the time.

THIS WAS NOT A RED CROSS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

I hear ya Twinkle...when I can do good htings for others..it helps me deal with missing the baby we lost...I cant imagine losing a 3 year old...any age I guess is hard to say good bye....

good for him, being strong enough to do that for others, soon after the loss...
hugss to you also for donating...I am A+ too....hehe my only A+ too..hugsss,sarah

I still thought we could not donate with MS. Can we donate if we're on an interferon??

Not sure. Seems like that may have been one of the questions they asked. Sorry, can't remember!

They did want to know about Accutane.

Actually, she didn't question me about MS. I brought it up, she just let me know it was okay, and didn't pursue it at all.

Maybe check the Red Cross website for particulars.

Twink, stories like that are the reason I keep going and giving blood!! It makes me feel good knowing somebody may need my blood someday and there it will be.

Rochelle, what a great feeling -- and great story about Joss.

Re: giving blood with MS, they have lifted the national ban but it is still up to each individual facility. I don't know about the interferons or drugs affecting the decision but even just MS-wise, some facilities will accept blood from MS donors and some won't.