Our Continue the Commitment promotion ended March 31, and we received some AMAZING stories from Commit for Life donors and recipients. Thank you to everyone who shared their story! If you submitted a story, you may be hearing from us regarding additional opportunities to inspire others to Commit for Life – like speaking engagements and our photo shoot.
Our final winning story in this year’s promotion was submitted by Justin Schwausch, whose commitment was renewed when his sister became a recipient.
A few years ago, we had a blood drive at my college. I didn’t think anything of it, went, and donated. Now, years later, my little sister, Jessica Schwausch, has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and due to bleeding of her tumor has required receiving over 30 units of blood. Now every eight weeks I will not only give blood, but also host a blood drive to get as much as possible donated.
Committing for Life for me simply means committing to save a life. My blood may not go directly to my sister, but someone is in need. There are those that are less fortunate and aren’t able to give. The importance of donating is so substantial that it really cannot be put into words. My sister wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for individuals who donate, and I hope that I can be that saving grace for a family by my donation as so many have been for me.
Thank you, Justin, for sharing your story and for Committing for Life!
Group photo: Jessica Miller, Elizabeth Chica Liliana Guerrero (with baby Cameron Miller), Grace Frias, Ronda McKnight, Aretha Price and Everitt Lang. Bottom row: Jackie Hanebuth; Chanc and Dionne LeJeaune; Jessica and Cameron Miller
The Commit for Life blood drives at Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital – Katy are going strong! This Easter-themed drive collected 27 units.
“As a Nurse and Teacher, we Commit for Life because we know the smallest of things can make a BIG difference,” said Chanc LeJeaune, pictured with his wife at bottom center.
CenterPoint Energy hosted a community blood drive in Fort Bend County earlier this month, and shared these photos with us.
The drive collected 50 units – enough to help save as many as 150 lives! The chairpersons for this drive told us, “It feels good to be a part of a community blood drive – we know the importance of having enough blood available. It’s wonderful that when you host a convenient blood drive like this, so many people are willing to come out and give.”
Are you interested in hosting a blood drive in your community? Give us a call at (713) 791-6670, or visit our website to learn more: http://www.giveblood.org/cfl/group.
Thanks to all who donated, and special thanks to Jeanette, Connie and CenterPoint Energy for making this such a successful blood drive!
Congratulations to Raisa Estrada, our Houston Aeros blood drive prize pack winner! She was entered in the drawing when she donated March 16 at the Houston Aeros blood drive at Toyota Center. A longtime Aeros blood donor, she was excited to win a prize pack that included a Houston Aeros blanket, two ball caps, two T-shirts, four tickets to each of two Houston Aeros home games and a set of two bobble heads!
Thanks to Raisa and all who participated in the Houston Aeros blood drive for helping save lives!
Have you submitted your story in our Continue the Commitment promotion yet? Every two weeks, one story will be chosen to be featured here in the Commit for Life Blog, and its author will receive 500 Commit for Life store points. Participants may also be recruited to participate in our Commit for Life campaign photo shoot and be featured in our calendar, awareness ads, brochures and more – just like these individuals who shared their stories in 2011.
Our latest story was submitted by Catherine Marquis, who Commits for Life at the Champions Neighborhood Donor Center. “In July, our 11-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. She has needed over 20 transfusions to date. I stopped officially counting at 20,” Catherine says.
While the family recruited area organizations to hold replenishment blood drives in Sydney’s honor, Catherine also took it upon herself to replenish the supply by donating blood. Sydney received a bone marrow donation from her sister in November.
“Commit for Life means my daughter’s life. She wouldn’t be here without the blood that others donated,” Catherine says.
Thanks to Catherine and Sydney for sharing their story! The Continue the Commitment promotion is almost over, but you have until March 31 to send us your story. We would love to hear it!
