I'm not crying... 🥺 I lied. I'm definitely crying

[demmiblue]

Link to tweet

The replies, too!

[Karadeniz]

1. That has to be meaningful beyond words for them. Is there such a thing as coincidence? Maybe,

but I've had a few that defy random encounter.

[whathehell]

2. Beautiful.

[alittlelark]

3. 'Just Listen' n/t

[rurallib]

4. I sort of had something similar happen to me

Not trying to toot my own horn but ......
I have been a blood donor forever - 55 years this year. During that time I have also been a white cell donor at the hospital. I have O negative blood and some kind of special kicker in my blood - can't remember what they called it.

Anyway - I was giving white cells this one time. White cells are donated usually for adult onset leukemia. It is like the very last shot a person has at recovery - a last ditch effort.

If you donate it could be 4 times in 2 weeks. In order to give you are given a a shot to 'stimulate' white cells - it makes you sick like a flu 12 hours before the donation.

I went to the hospital to get my shot. There was a small party going on in the break room of the cancer ward where I got my shot. As I waited I asked one of the young ladies there what the party was about. She told me her dad was getting his last white cell infusion and if every thing worked out all right he would be cured and would go home tomorrow.

She also said that whoever the donor was, her Dad really had a good reaction to this white cells. She then asked me if I would like a piece of cake. Well, I certainly couldn't eat.

All that to say, I can sort of relate to what happened there - a totally unexpected meeting. I never did tell them who I was - just said I was so happy for them.

[LoisB]

6. Much respect to you. Not only for donating but for being such a selfless person to not let them

know that you are the donor.

[rurallib]

7. thanks - it was kind of overwhelming and they were so happy.

ETA - and then I went home and got really sick from the shot ......

[Skittles]

10. you're probably CMV negative

I am a 60 gallon platelet donor

[eleny]

24. We've been here decades and I never knew this about you

[Skittles]

25. I donated blood too, before I moved here

so my total count is more than 60 gals....yeah, it's my preferred way of "giving back" to the community - I literally just lay there watching a movie, and people think I am a hero

[eleny]

26. Well, you are! You are!

[rurallib]

27. Yep - I watch a lot of TV and just lay there

some of my early records are gone, but I figured I am @ 55 gallons.

[rurallib]

28. That's it! CMV negative

[Skittles]

29. valuable because your product can be used in newborns

yes indeed

[rurallib]

32. Well that is another story

Got a call on a Sunday morning about 4AM. It was the nurse on call at the donor center.
"How quick can you get here?" "Half an hour." "Come running! Let the service park your car."

I got there and they had a golf cart waiting for me. We did the usual checks and I was in the chair by 4:45. I was told it was for a newborn, so they were taking less. As the finish to the donation was coming there was a doctor literally pacing at the end if my chair.

When the beep sounded she grabbed the bag and went running out of the center.

I was back home before the kids or wife were up.

They can't tell you what happened, but at my next donation the clerk gave me a small basket as I left with a couple of candy bars, some peanuts and a small flower arrangement. It had a card that said "our baby lived." That was it. Probably very hard for them to write.

You are the only person outside of my wife and kids who has ever heard that story.

[Skittles]

33. oh man that is sweet

I honestly don't ever think much of the hundreds of people who have received my blood / platelets but there was one moment that really got to me.....a big picture on the wall at a donation center of a beautiful three year old boy who had passed, and a quote from the parents that said:

"No matter what happened, we are so grateful to the people who allowed us to have one more day, one more hour, one more moment with our son."

I'm tearing up now just thinking about it.

[rurallib]

34. yep - makes me a bit misty also

[Joinfortmill]

14. 👍

[renate]

23. What a beautiful experience!

That's lovely and what you did was lovely!

[TomSlick]

5. I'm choked-up.

I don't have a transplanted heart but I do have a transplanted cornea.

The transplant gave me vision in an eye that had been essentially useless and ended years of intense pain. I am very grateful to the donor and their family.

[rurallib]

8. !

[Victor_c3]

9. Touching, for sure

What a great way to share the gift of a heart with the donor’s family.

A relative of mine through marriage who suffered from cystic fibrosis was the recipient of a double lung transplant, twice. The first set lasted him a decade plus. If I recall correctly, he was literally running with his new lungs a few weeks after surgery.

The guy was a real life Mr. Roggers type. He had a huge heart and was always positive about everything in his life. He had a profoundly positive impact on the people around him and he helped countless people through his work.

Sadly, he died in his early 40’s during his second double lung transplant.

I’m not planning on dying young, but I sure hope my old body can do some good for the people I leave behind - whether it’s as a cadaver for medical school or for my used parts.

[Riverman100]

11. this is real America

Unlike repub values

[rubbersole]

12. The Karma Fairy blessed them.

Thanks for posting.

[mcar]

13. That was beautiful

and serendipitous.

[BigmanPigman]

19. Wasn't that aspect of the story cool?

[mcar]

20. What are the odds?

[Handler]

15. Very cool

[Cha]

16. KR for later!

🕯🕊💜🐬🌻

[Cha]

17. KR for later!

🕯🕊💜🐬🌻

[bottomofthehill]

18. There is something wrong with me.

I am not an emotional person. Prior to Covid and the insurrection, I think I cried 5 times in my adult life. I see things like this and I find myself in tears. Not my normal state.

[ArnoldLayne]

21. Kick

[niyad]

22. KNR

[calimary]

30. There go the waterworks...

[11 Bravo]

31. Damned allergies.