Mother Donor

No matter what your path to become a mother included (adoption, IVF, pregnancy, birth, etc.), the journey most certainly included bravery. Can you just own it mamas? You are brave. You were brave in the past, you are brave in the present, and you will be brave in the future. Being a mother has required you to dig deep into reserves you often didn’t think you had, but you found them. You walked through scary things, pushed yourself beyond your limits, and have come out on the other side of some very hard things.

It is to this brave mother warrior that I would like to appeal to now. Mamas, it is time to rise up and join together as a collective force of brave, caring, do-what-needs-to-be-done, no excuses making powerful women. I’m going to tell you about two opportunities to do just that- becoming a regular blood donor and joining the Be The Match Registry.

I’m embarrassed to tell you that my very first blood donation wasn’t until February 1, 2016. Better late than never, right? I had ignored opportunities to donate before because I thought I could never do it. I get woozy at watching first aid videos. I break out in a sweat pulling out a splinter. So, I hid behind fear and busyness and quickly pushed thoughts of blood donation out of my mind. It just wasn’t “my thing.”

One of the powerful examples from the generation before us is witnessing their collective attitude of stepping up, rolling up their sleeves, and getting things done. How many times have you been stopped behind a huge Buick sedan with a bumper sticker proudly proclaiming, “5 Gallon Donor?” I want to be like that. At age 36 I am actually starting to feel like an adult, so now I need to change some patterns of thinking that are childish. Dismissing an opportunity to save three lives every 56 days simply because it’s not “my thing” is pretty childish. I’m better than that. I’m braver than that. So are you.

Your bravery as a mother can extend to help save real lives. If one of your children needed blood, you wouldn’t hesitate to give it. Emboldened with fierce mother-love you would run to help. Let’s extend that love and bravery to each other, and each other’s children. You never know when or if someone you love will need blood. You can read more information and even schedule a Red Cross Blood Donation . Wondering if you can donate? Read these eligibility requirements .

The second opportunity I want to tell you about is the Be The Match Registry. I saw a friend post about this on Facebook a year ago, before that time I had never heard of the registry. I joined about 6 months ago. The Be The Match Registry is a national registry of people who have submitted their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) through a simple cheek swab kit. Joining the registry is implying willingness to donate bone marrow if a need arises and you are the best match. The more people on the registry, the more likely a match can be made, and the best outcome is obtained for a transplant recipient. I joined the Be The Match Registry because I believe in the collective bravery of people willing to give to help save someone’s life. If any of my loved ones or I needed a transplant, I would desperately want the best match.  What an honor and opportunity! You can take the first simple steps in joining here.

Moms, you are brave. You are strong. I hope this post inspires you to think and take steps forward in courage. We all are part of the collective motherhood that cares and nurtures beyond the confines of our homes. You were made for this. Own it. Encourage others to be brave too. Courage is contagious. Your example is powerful.