😱 This week, I did something that truly scared me: I gave blood. 😱
Now, some of you might be wondering, “Why was this so scary, Samson?” The truth is, I’m deathly afraid of needles, and I can’t stand the sight of blood. But there was more to my fear. I’d never known my specific blood type, and my mum always told me I had the sickle cell trait, which subconsciously pushed me away from donating. Ironically, that’s an even greater reason to give blood.
So why now? There were a few powerful reasons. First, I’ve been working with one of my mentors, Toni, on facing my fears and pushing myself to do things even when I’m afraid. But I was also inspired by the constant need for more Black donors, a cause that influencers like Adesayo and the 90s Baby Show podcast have championed. Sayo’s passion and personal story around blood donation stayed with me for months.
The final push was discovering my blood type at work: B+. This isn’t just rare; it’s incredibly valuable in treating people with sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia, conditions primarily affecting Black and South Asian communities. There is a high demand for B+ blood donations.
So, I decided to do it afraid. I was looked after by an amazing Ghanaian man who made the experience so much easier—and, you know what? It wasn’t as painful as I’d imagined! I’ll definitely be back in 3 months to donate again. Knowing how rare my blood type is and how it could help others, I felt it was my duty. In a reverse situation, if I needed blood, I’d rely on others’ generosity, so it feels right to give back.
As a Black man, a Christian, and just someone trying to help others, I feel it’s my duty. If my blood can help even one person, then it’s worth it.
So if you’re looking for a sign, here it is: GO GIVE BLOOD. 🙏🏾✨ Stay blessed.
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#BloodDonation
#GiveBlood
#OvercomingFear
#BlackDonorsMatter
#BPositive
#CommunitySupport
#HelpingOthers
#SickleCellAwareness
#Thalassaemia
#MakingADifference
#StayBlessed