Audra & The Antidote

I just found out my bloodtype. I've gone through my whole life without knowing - sometimes wondering - and now I know. I'm 0-. That is a special bloodtype that only 7% of the population has. It's also the bloodtype that everybody can take - "the universal donor." It's the blood they give accident victims before they know their bloodtype.

I suddenly feel like I've been completely selfish my entire life. I have never given blood because I saw my friends in highschool passout or have their whole arm bruised for weeks. I convinced myself that I was too thin anyway (though over their 115 pound limit) and that it wouldn't be good for my health.

I could have saved so many lives. Recently I've been thinking about my importance in life. When it comes down to it, I'm not important. No one depends on me; no one really need me. I mean, sure, people would miss me if I were gone, but everything I do can be completed easily by someone else. Only 7% of the population can save as many lives.

The way I understand it, O- is recessive, so both parents have to have this bloodtype for you to have it. That also means that all offspring will have this type also. I have three siblings who apparently all share this rare bloodtype. To my knowledge, neither my parents nor my siblings give blood either. What a waste.

I'm going to do my best to change this. I'm going to start giving blood and I'm going to encourage my siblings and parents to do the same. Our blood is important. Your blood is important too.