Just after 1am, On October 1st 1979, after 49 hours labour: I gave birth to an 8lb 4oz daughter.
At 25 and with two boys already, I had waited 8 years to have my little girl. I was really happy, the birth had been a difficult one; now it was 2am - I hadn't slept for 3 days and I felt drained of energy. I went to bed and went out like a light.

Next thing I remember was someone bringing me a cup of tea and telling me to have a shower. I didn't stir, then a little while later my breakfast came and went, I couldn't wake up properly and felt like my energy was draining away.
It was around 10am when I heard a nurse saying, "Doctor, this mother hasn't been very cooperative today" and went on to explain that I had not showered or had breakfast.
The doctor said, "Lets take a look at your tummy" and pulled back the covers.
The look on their faces alarmed me so I followed their gaze, I could see myself lying in a pool of blood, and it was everywhere! I remember thinking "I am going to die" then I passed out.
I had to have surgery; I woke up some time later in intensive care, tubes running in all directions and there were machines monitoring me.
I had lost 5 units of blood and they nearly lost me on the operation table.
I looked up at a bag of blood, it was giving me life - I studied it. There was a sticker with a name and numbers on it, I committed them to memory, the last 4 digits were my year of birth.
A few days later I was moved into the regular ward, I came home with Melissa a few days later.
Over the next two years I had 5 more units of blood, I finally had a hysterectomy, which required more blood, all up 24 units in 12 years. I went through Freedom Of Information and found out the same person had donated me 14 units of that blood.

Melissa was 4 when my marriage broke up, there were lots of adjustments to make, new friends came into my life, one of them was Graham.
Graham and I were talking about things that have happened in our lives, I told him that I would like to meet and thank one of the people who gave blood to me.
He said, "That's never going to happen because you will never be able to find out who gave you blood" I said, "Yes, I know, but they left the name and number on one of the bags and I found out the person who has donated me the most blood, through Freedom Of Information!"
Graham said, "If you remember, tell me, I might be able to help you find the person" I said, "Yes" I gave him the name, Graham then went on to tell me he knew someone by that name living locally and we wondered if it was the person who gave me the blood.

Two years later, Graham and I were driving through Glenrowan when Graham spotted the mans car parked near a hall where there were things on display.
We walked into the hall, Graham pointed out a large guy down the other end of the hall. I told Graham, "He doesn't look like a blood donor"
Graham replied, "What does a donor look like?"
He had a point, we started walking down towards the man, I stood next to Graham at the display, he introduced us and suddenly I got cold feet.
Graham nudged me, and then said to him, "Kay has something she wants to say to you"

I asked "Webby" if he donated blood 6 years ago, he told me that he had been donating blood for 20 years; I learned that his blood group was the same as mine (A) RH negative. Not a common blood group.
I stretched my hand out and said, "I want to shake your hand and thank you for being a blood donor, and you have saved my life".
Webby was thrilled, couldn't believe his luck and said he would continue to donate blood with renewed vigour. He had often wondered what happened to the blood he donated and now he was rapped to meet one of the people he saved.
From that day on "Webby" and I became the best of friends, we joke about being blood related.

People like Webby have given the gift of life, time and time again, he and I were fortunate we found each other and were able to meet. I have never heard of it before.
I wanted to tell you this story because I am alive only because of people like "Webby"

Why don't you become a donor? Give someone the gift of life?

Handy links Red Cross for FAQ's Who can donate blood info on Cord Blood and National Organ Donation .... WA organ donation

Having it on your drivers license isn't enough, besides telling family and friends, you need to register your intentions or objections to donating organs & tissue

Copyright kaydidit 4th January 2003

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