MODEL EXAMPLE OF AMERICAN RESILIANCE: STANFORD BLOOD CENTER
MYTH: Americans can’t do anything right. All Americans are complete idiots.
September 11, 2001 had gone down in history as the worst terrorist attack ever to hit the U.S. or any other nation for that matter. The attacks occurred at the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Many people were killed in these attacks and a greater number were seriously injured. Because of the latter, the American Red Cross made an all-out appeal for blood donors.
It was around October 2001 that I gave blood for the first time. This was in response to September 11. The Stanford Blood Center was hosting a Halloween-themed blood-drive. The event took place at the lobby of a local downtown hotel, The Cardinal, in Palo Alto. To mark the event, the people that gave blood were given free pizza and orange juice. Because this was Halloween, they were also given free chocolate. The staff was dressed in costumes for the occasion.
I will admit that I still have not gotten over my fear of needles -and I still don’t, even to this day. Still, I confronted my fear of needles just for the people who needed the blood plasma. Tip: When a nurse or doctor is about to put a needle in your arm (I let them put one on my left arm because I am right-handed), look the other way, close your eyes, hold your breath, grit your teeth or bite on something and you will be fine. After I gave blood that was when I got free pizza, orange juice, and chocolate.
This marked the first time I gave blood. The next blood-drive event took place on Valentine’s Day in February. Free chocolate was also common on Valentine’s Day. There was also free pizza and orange juice.
Because of September 11, the number of people giving blood had increased considerably. The Halloween and Valentine themed blood drive had to be moved to the Palo Alto City Hall to accommodate the greater number of blood donors. Giving a person snacks and orange juice after the person has given blood is mandatory. This is to prevent the person from passing out.
The main headquarters of the Stanford Blood Center is located near the Stanford Medical Center that is next to Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. The center manages their operations and blood drive events with a minimal budget. The operations also include a new state-of-the-art research center located near the Foothill Expressway and Sand Hill Road. The research center also takes blood donors on a walk-in basis.
Since September 11, I had made it a routine and tradition of giving blood at the holiday-themed events sponsored by the blood center: Halloween, Valentine’s Day, July 4 BBQ (it actually occurs on July 5), and events involving raffle draws and gift certificates involving movie passes or free ice cream (Baskin Robbins).
As I continued to give blood, I try to learn more about the blood center. My observation is that these people are able to manage the center and the events with a limited budget. This is not easy to do, yet they learn to be resourceful. They have to be, in order to manage that state-of-the-art research center. This is the model example of American resilience that I am talking about.
I am the only person in my family (out of having five brothers and three sisters and being the youngest) to give blood -and I’m still scared of needles. My older siblings cannot give blood because they had travelled to Asia (including India) and Europe and there is a strict quarantine policy in effect.
Despite the economic slump in the U.S., there is still American resilience without the help of the White House or Congress. Hopefully, the Stanford Blood Center is part of that resilience.
Official website:
http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu/
Stanford University Location
The Research Center
