Ms. Oanh's journey of 25 times sharing blood

With the thought of “a drop of blood given, a life saved”, over the past years, Ms. Cao Thi Oanh, born in 1974, a member of the Women’s Union of Nguyen An village, Son Nguyen commune, Son Hoa district, has donated blood 25 times. In addition, she has actively encouraged her family and many local people to donate blood, contributing to spreading the act of donating blood to save lives.

Ms. Cao Thi Oanh always believes that as long as she is healthy, she will volunteer to save people. Photo: Contributor

Be ready to give blood when possible

Receiving the news that the Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation (VBD) of Son Hoa district was organizing the launching ceremony of the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, Ms. Oanh woke up early to visit the fields, then went home to feed the chickens to participate in time. For her, voluntary blood donation has become a familiar and regular activity.

Recalling the first days of knowing and participating in the voluntary blood donation movement, Ms. Oanh said: “That was in 2010, when I was the Head of the Women's Association of Nguyen An village, the Women's Union and the Red Cross launched the voluntary blood donation movement in the locality. I first registered but was hesitant because I was afraid that donating blood would affect my health and reduce my labor force. However, after being consulted by doctors and union officials, I clearly understood the benefits of donating blood, not only saving patients but also improving the health of the donor, so I confidently participated.”

Since then, whenever the district and provincial blood donation committees organize blood donation programs, Ms. Oanh arranges her farm work to participate. After donating blood, she feels better in health and spirit. Therefore, she donates blood 2-3 times every year. In nearly 14 years, she has donated blood 25 times. But for Ms. Oanh, that is still not the number she wants. Because every day there are many people who need blood but she has to wait more than 3 months to donate whole blood.

Ms. Oanh confided: “Just thinking that thanks to the donated blood, patients have more hope to live, to be revived, and reunited with their families makes me feel very happy and joyful because I have done something meaningful for society. To ensure a good amount of blood for the next blood donation, I eat nutritious food, work out regularly, and walk to exercise to improve my health.”

The whole family donated blood

Not only is she enthusiastic about blood donation, Ms. Oanh is also an active person in the role of blood donation campaigner. She actively encourages relatives, family, and members, and women to participate in blood donation. Ms. Oanh's act of blood donation to save lives has spread to her children and relatives.

To date, all three of her children have participated in blood donation; her eldest daughter has donated blood 15 times, her youngest son has donated blood 5 times and her middle daughter has donated blood once. Encouraged by her, her two younger sisters and nieces have also actively participated in donating blood to save lives.

Bui Kim Hong Thuy, Oanh's eldest daughter, shared: "I really admire the act of donating blood to save lives that my mother has been volunteering to do for the past 14 years. Following my mother's example and wanting to share my blood with patients to have the opportunity to continue to sustain their lives, I have donated blood 15 times and was awarded a certificate of merit by the People's Committee of Son Hoa district for my outstanding achievements in blood donation work."

Ms. Oanh's husband is also a person who understands and always supports the meaningful work of his wife and children. Because of his health condition, he cannot directly donate blood, however, this barefoot farmer always accompanies his wife and children on the journey of "Sharing blood - giving life".

With the support of her husband and the companionship of her children, she has more motivation to continue participating and mobilizing relatives and women's union members of the village to donate blood. In 2019, with the number of blood donations of the whole family being 35 times, Ms. Oanh's family was awarded a certificate of merit by the Provincial People's Committee for outstanding achievements in blood donation work.

In addition to actively participating in blood donation and blood donation campaigns to save lives, Ms. Oanh is also very enthusiastic in local movements. Commenting on Ms. Oanh, President of the Women's Union of Son Nguyen Commune, Cao Thi Loan, said: The journey of sharing blood drops of Ms. Oanh and her children is a living example in the mass blood donation movement. Therefore, the commune's propaganda work on humanitarian blood donation to the people is easier. Ms. Oanh's repeated blood donation actions are very valuable and need to be replicated. She has contributed to spreading the value of humane and compassionate life in the community.

Donating blood to save lives comes from compassion, is sharing with the hope that my blood will help the sick overcome the danger. I always tell myself that as long as I am healthy, I will continue to donate blood. Because, HMTN has become a habit in my life.

Ms. Cao Thi Oanh

HA MY - NGOC TAN

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