The First Sparkles

Eighteen years old is a milestone that can be called adulthood. Young people are like trees full of life, eager to mark that special moment. Some young people choose a meaningful moment that they have long desired but are not old enough: donating blood.

At the blood donation points, many girls were so scared that they didn’t dare look at the needle, but they were determined to give blood. The boys smiled and raised their hands, asking the doctor to take more, the doctor smiled and lovingly scolded them not to rely on their youth to say whatever they wanted. The eyes of the young people sparkled. They believed that their drops of blood would reach those who needed them, like a short but valuable message: one drop of blood given, one life saved.

The seniors who had donated blood many times turned to ask the juniors, “Is this your first time?” The juniors happily replied, “Yes, your first time.” They responded with honor and joy that could not be hidden on their faces. Some of them joked that they were as happy as… holding their lover’s hand for the first time. Some of them said they would show off to their parents, so that they would say that their son was so big that he was of no use to anyone. Each additional drop of blood was a hope to save many lives.

But saving someone's life - I once read somewhere that the discussion started like that. People are afraid that the blood will go to someone who is not good, so isn't that helping bad things? The blood will go to those who need it. In times of danger, everyone longs to live. When falling, everyone needs a helping hand. I always believe that drops of blood are so meaningful, after going through life and death, no one wants to do bad things anymore.
If you calculate, many patients who receive blood after recovery almost always find a way to donate blood. They not only want to return the favor but also want to circulate the blood, so that the shared drops of blood continue to spread, resonate and bloom. Receive and give, receive and continue to give…

There was a forty-year-old woman who donated blood for the first time, smiling gently, "I'm so embarrassed in front of the kids, I should have gone sooner." Her friend sitting next to her had just recovered from an illness and couldn't donate yet, but she clicked her tongue in regret and made an appointment for another time. There was an honest man who told his story, saying that in the past he thought donating blood was bad for the body, so he didn't dare to donate. It wasn't until his daughter was hospitalized and needed a blood transfusion that he understood the importance of the donated blood. The doctor also explained in detail that donating blood in the right amount also helps the body stimulate blood production, which is good for health. That's why he's here now, waiting in line for his turn to donate his blood.

Blood has a short shelf life, only about a month, so blood banks need to be replenished continuously. Blood donation campaigns are organized regularly. People who donate blood are confused the first time, then proactively go a second, third time. Many, many more times. Somewhere, a stranger silently thanks the drop of blood that helped them escape a critical situation. Like the man sitting in the corner, although he is too old to donate blood, his child volunteered to donate on his behalf as a way to thank the unknown benefactor, and also to help many other people.

There are rare blood types, donors are saving themselves. They know that they will survive thanks to the rare blood types that only they have. They have to donate the priceless gift they possess.
Looking at the lines of people patiently waiting for their turn to donate blood is as beautiful as a forest. The drops of blood are the seeds sown, so that the future will be brighter. Those lines of people, no matter the scorching sun or the stormy rain, still happily wait. They are the ones who light up hope for many others. Among them, how many young people, how many shining for the first time?

To thank and encourage voluntary blood donors, especially those who donate blood repeatedly, in 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, the International Society of Blood Transfusion and the World Association of Blood Donors chose June 14 to honor blood donors. June 14 is also the birthday of Austrian professor Karl Lendsteiner - the first person to discover the ABO blood group system in 1900. His discovery helped bring about an important step forward in the history of blood transfusion for humanity.

THANH PHAT

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