The first times sparkled

Eighteen years old, a milestone that could be called adulthood. Young people, like trees bursting with life, eagerly want to mark this special moment. Some young people choose a meaningful moment they've long desired but weren't old enough to experience: donating blood.

At blood donation centers, many young women are terrified, turning pale and afraid to even look at the needle, but they are determined to donate blood. The young men, however, laugh and hold out their hands, urging the doctor to take plenty. The doctor, smiling, playfully scolds them, telling them not to think they can say whatever they want just because they're young. The eyes of these young people sparkle. They believe their blood will reach those who need it, conveying a concise yet valuable message: one drop of blood given, one life saved.

The older volunteers, who had donated blood many times, turned to the younger ones and asked, "Is this your first time?" The younger ones happily replied, "Yes, it's my first time." Their response was filled with pride and joy, evident on their faces. Some joked that they felt as joyful as... holding their lover's hand for the first time. Others said they would immediately tell their parents, lest their parents scold them for being a grown man who hadn't been able to help anyone. Silently, each drop of blood donated represented hope for saving many lives.

But whose life should be saved? I once read somewhere that the discussion began like that. People feared the blood would go to the wrongdoers, wouldn't that be aiding and abetting evil? Blood should go to those who need it. In times of crisis, everyone longs to live. When they stumble, everyone needs a helping hand. I've always believed that drops of blood are so meaningful; after facing death, no one would want to do anything bad again.
A quick calculation shows that many patients who receive blood after recovery almost always try to donate blood. They not only want to repay the kindness but also want to keep the blood flowing in a circular flow, so that the shared drops of blood continue to spread, resonate, and flourish. Receiving and giving, receiving and continuing to give…

There was a forty-year-old woman donating blood for the first time, gently smiling, "I'm so embarrassed in front of the young people, I wish I had come earlier." Her friend sitting next to her, who had just recovered from an illness and couldn't donate yet, sighed regretfully, promising to do it next time. A man honestly shared his story, saying that he used to think donating blood was harmful to his body, so he didn't dare donate. It wasn't until his daughter was hospitalized and needed a blood transfusion that he fully understood the importance of those donated drops of blood. The doctor also explained in detail that donating blood in the right amount can stimulate the body to produce more blood, which is good for health. That's why he's here now, waiting in line to donate his blood.

Blood has a short shelf life, only about a month, so blood banks need to be constantly replenished. Blood donation drives are organized regularly and consistently. People who donate blood for the first time are hesitant, then they proactively go a second, third, and many more times. Somewhere, a stranger silently thanks the drop of blood that saved them from a critical situation. Like the elderly man sitting in the corner over there, although he is past the age for blood donation, his child volunteered to donate on his behalf as a way of thanking the anonymous benefactor, and also to help many others.

For rare blood types, blood donors are essentially saving themselves. They know they will survive thanks to these scarce and unique blood types. Therefore, they feel compelled to donate this invaluable gift they possess.
Watching the lines of people patiently waiting their turn to donate blood is like seeing a beautiful forest. Each drop of blood is a seed sown, paving the way for a brighter future. These people, whether in scorching sun or pouring rain, wait cheerfully. They are the ones who ignite hope for so many others. Among them are so many young people, so many sparkling firsts!

To thank and encourage voluntary blood donors, especially repeat donors, in 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Blood Transfusion Society, and the World Blood Donors Association designated June 14th as the day to honor blood donors. June 14th is also the birthday of Austrian professor Karl Lendsteiner, who first discovered the ABO blood group system in 1900. His discovery brought about a significant advance in the history of blood transfusion for humankind.

THANH PHAT

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