34 | November/December 2017
G I V I N G
A Worthy
Gift
BY BROOKE SHOFFNER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
MATTHEW WONDERLY
WE ALL CRAVE IT – the
euphoria that comes with watching
someone open the perfect Christmas
gi, which you bought for them. Or the
reaction you get when delivering a hot
meal to someone in need and learning
you happened to cook their favorite
dish. Isn't that warm, fuzzy feeling that
envelops you enough to make the holidays
seem perfect?
But what about the pride you feel when
you leave the Cape Fear Valley Blood
Donor Center knowing the forty-five
minutes you just spent there may save
three lives?
Odds are you haven't experienced that
emotion.
It's understandable if you haven't.
It might not have occurred to you to
give blood. Or if it has, it may seem
inconvenient: You have to find time in
your schedule and break your routine.
Maybe you can't donate blood right now
because of health issues or your travel
history. Or – a big reason for some –
maybe you're afraid of needles.
I had absolutely no excuse. I'd been
assigned this story, I was going to
the Blood Donor Center in Bordeaux
Shopping Center anyway, I'm in good
health and I'm not afraid of needles. I've
given blood before. I had no reason not to
donate this time. So I did. It was easy!
Upon arrival, I was greeted by friendly
faces and was registered to donate in just
Tiffany Snyder
checks on Angie
Syphrit during
the donation
process
Ian Lake donates
blood platelets
every two weeks
