Short story in Red Journey (Part 1): Happiness in giving

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Not noisy, not brilliant, the blood donation journey of thousands of people is still as quiet as a stream flowing in the middle of life. There, each drop of blood is a sharing, each donation is a humanitarian act and behind that are millions of small but extremely warm stories. Stories like that - simple but full of humanity have been and are contributing to writing the humanitarian journey called "donating blood to save people", illuminating beautiful living values ​​in the community.

The person who "lights the fire" for voluntary blood donation

With 60 voluntary blood donations, including 40 platelet donations, Mr. Tran Van Son, Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Province Voluntary Blood Donation Propaganda and Mobilization Club, not only gave drops of blood of love but he also inspired and united people to spread the good things in life with the message: "One drop of blood given - one life left".

Mr. Tran Van Son during a voluntary blood donation. (Photo provided by the character)

Tran Van Son started the conversation with us with such a simple and meaningful statement. Sharing the reason for being involved in the voluntary blood donation movement (VBD) for the past 13 years, Mr. Son confided: “In 2010, when my father suffered from gastric bleeding and was hospitalized and needed blood for transfusion, the family had a hard time a blood source. Seeing my father tired and pale lying on the bed, my mother and I could not help but worry. However, with the care of the medical team and the blood source from relatives, my father fortunately overcame the critical condition.”

After seeing his relatives' health stabilization, student Tran Van Son decided to donate blood when he was old enough. In 2012, when he was a first-year student at Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Son had the opportunity to participate in the Spring Festival organized by the provincial Red Cross Society. Son was also the first student in his class to register and through his family's story, he convinced many of his classmates to join him.

“The first time I donated blood, I couldn't help but felt nervous and worried. However, after donating blood, I felt better, my studies and participation in sports activities were not affected, and I was very happy that my blood could save a patient's life,” Tran Van Son added.

Donating blood is like "saving money in the bank" because in this life, no one knows what will happen, sometimes you or your relatives, people living around you will need this blood source sooner or later.

To ensure health and blood quality for the next times, Son always cares about living a moderate life, not smoking, limiting the use of alcoholic beverages; actively exercising and playing sports. With 60 times of blood donation, including 40 times of platelet donation in the past 13 years, many people wonder and ask: Donating blood so much, aren't you afraid of affecting your health? Every time like that, Son just smiles, says that his health is still stable, don't donate blood is an extremely meaningful thing, because blood is life for patients. Donating blood is like "depositing in a savings bank" because in this life, no one knows what will happen, sometimes he himself or his relatives, people living around him will need this blood source sooner or later.

Share love, give life

For many years, Mr. Tran Van Son has been working tirelessly on the HTTM, regardless of day or night - whenever there is a phone call or information posted about blood donation in the Club, Mr. Tran Van Son continues to go. During the blood donation times, Mr. Son has never forgotten the memory of June 1, 2023 when he was on his way from Hanoi to Thanh Hoa. It was 11pm, he received a phone call from the hospital informing him that there was a patient in need of emergency blood just as he had just arrived in Thanh Hoa. Without thinking, he quickly took a taxi to the hospital and had a blood transfusion until 2am before returning home. Although tired after a long trip, he felt happier and more joyful because his blood had helped the patient overcome the critical condition.

Mr. Tran Van Son is happy that his blood can give hope to patients. (Photo provided by the character)

“Whenever I donate blood, I never leave my phone number in the hope that the patient's family will thank me; I even send the money and cakes I receive to the patient's family. I only hope that my small actions will not only be meaningful to the patient but also contribute to spreading the message of donating blood to save lives to the community, so that more and more people will participate,” Tran Van Son confided.

Not only directly donating blood, Mr. Son also actively mobilized relatives, friends and the community to join hands in voluntary blood donation. As the Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Province Voluntary Blood Donation Propaganda and Mobilization Club, Mr. Son is always active and enthusiastic in coordinating with the Club's Board of Directors and the Provincial Red Cross Society to effectively implement voluntary blood donation programs, such as: Spring Festival, Red Journey - Connecting Vietnamese Blood, blood donation communication... Thereby, contributes to the effective implementation of propaganda and mobilization of voluntary blood donation in the province.

With his active contributions to the propaganda and mobilization of voluntary blood donation in the province, in 2023, Mr. Tran Van Son was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee for his outstanding achievements in voluntary blood donation work.

When asked about his future plans, Tran Van Son answered without hesitation that he would continue to accompany the members of the Club to spread the HMTN movement more widely in the community. Not only does he donate blood to save lives, but Mr. Son is also the one who "lights the fire" connecting love between people, thereby building a united community that cares and shares with each other.

Thanh Hoa Province's Voluntary Blood Donation Propaganda and Mobilization Club was established in 2013, with 100 members from universities and colleges in the province.

Every year, the Club cooperates with the Provincial Red Cross Society to participate in promoting and organizing blood donation programs, such as: Spring Festival, National Blood Donation Day on April 7; International Blood Donor Day on June 14; Red Journey program... At the same time, the Club supports the organization of blood donation programs in localities across the province, contributing to the success of blood donation programs in localities. Club members also regularly participate in donating blood and saving lives when there is information that requires support from hospitals.

Trung Hieu

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Lesson 2: To add another life to stay

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cau-chuyen-nho-trong-hanh-trinh-do-bai-1-hanh-phuc-vi-duoc-cho-di-254027.htm