A way to help Tessa and others

Alot of people have been asking about ways they can help Tessa and it occurred to Katie this morning that one very tangible way to help her (and others) is to donate blood.

I know, I know...you've heard about blood shortages before and the need for donations and that certainly applies here however due to Tessa's condition, she can only accept blood from the blood bank that is less than 5 days old. I still don't understand the full reason for that but we do know that it's one of the reasons why it's been taking so long to get Tessa a transfusion in between the time the blood is ordered from the blood bank and ultimately delivered to her room. Tessa has been going at the rate of 1 transfusion every day or every other day. Hopefully that will taper off really soon but in the meantime, every little bit helps.

If you happen to have O positive blood type and are willing to part ways with several million of your closest red blood cell friends, please go to the UCSF blood bank which is across the street from the Children's Hospital. Here's a map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF-8&q=UCSF+Children%27s+hospital&near=San+Francisco,+CA&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&ei=YA7dSbKWLpDoMMat1dQN&cid=11185673583927457723&li=lmd&z=14&t=m

And if you're not O positive, you can still be a huge help to others and even to kids like Tessa.

And if you're really squeamish about blood like me and faint almost every time you give blood...then please be careful. I'm gonna donate as often as I can so I may see you there. I'll be the one wearing a bike helmet passed out on ground with smelling salts jammed up my nose.