Blood donations to UT MD Anderson kept my wife alive for 13 years<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve lost count of how many blood products my wife received at UT MD Anderson. But her life depended on every last one of them. So, I\u2019m very grateful.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m also grateful to myeloma specialist Dr. Donna Weber<\/a>, her APRN<\/a> Tiffany Richards, and the countless nurses and technicians at UT MD Anderson who took such great care of my wife. Ever and I had many tough days due to her illness. But we also enjoyed 13 more years of traveling and raising our son, Jackson, together because of UT MD Anderson and the people who donated blood there.<\/p>\n Ever didn\u2019t quite reach her goal of watching Jackson graduate high school. He was only 15 when she passed away last summer. But she got pretty close. And, she did get to see him grow into someone she was truly proud of.<\/p>\n We made so many incredible memories. That time together was truly priceless. So, I can never fully express how grateful I am for it. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve started donating blood products at UT MD Anderson regularly.<\/p>\n \u2018Everything to me, but also one of hundreds\u2019<\/p>\n My wife was everything to me. But she was also one of hundreds of patients who need blood products every day at UT MD Anderson. I wanted to repay all those people who donated when my wife needed it most.<\/p>\n Everybody knows somebody who has been affected by cancer. And someone you know is going to need blood at some point. That\u2019s why we all have to pitch in to help each other.<\/p>\n While Ever was still alive, my focus was on taking care of her and our son. So, I gave blood as often as time allowed. I\u2019m much more intentional about it now. I make an appointment every eight weeks at UT MD Anderson Blood Bank\u2019s Holly Hall location<\/a>. Mostly, I\u2019ve given platelets, because that\u2019s been what\u2019s needed most. But I will donate whatever UT MD Anderson wants. Because my wife is gone. The need for blood donation isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n