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You might be a little squeamish about blood and if so it's certainly understandable.  But you'll appreciate this.

Tracy and I recently had the privilege of emceeing the annual Chili Dinner sponsored by the Midwest Region of the American Red Cross.  More than one thousand blood donors were honored for their "gift of life" in 2007.  For some it was their first ever donation of blood, others had given for the 100th time, and several were honored for surpassing the 600 mark in lifetime donations.

They were of all ages, and each heard their name called with the invitation to step up on the platform to be honored.  Their unselfish giving has made the difference in the lives of countless people they will never meet.

On this night we all had a chance to meet Nicole Owens, a mother of five children.  Her daughter Sydnee has battled cancer most of her young life and without donated plasma, platelets and red cells she would not be alive today.  Sydnee could not be with us that evening because of treatment but her huge smile on the big screen lit up the banquet room.  Her story put everything in perspective.

And I have to mention Russel Lambert who was recognized by the Midwest Region for his lifetime donations.  He has visited the office 684 times to donate platelets.  A number that is truly hard to comprehend.

To all of the more than one thousand donors who were honored by the American Red Cross:  Knicely Done!