Donor stories

The story of spring

I do not even remember my first donation.

I performed it according to the drawings about two weeks after 18's birthday, at Zion Square in Jerusalem.

I remember the car, apparently, because I donated at it several more times. Although I do not remember a specific talk about blood donation, at home and at school I was certainly taught to give to others.

Blood donation has always seemed to me like a wonderful giving, full of contrasts: on the one hand you see and feel that something has really come out of you, and on the other hand, within a few days you are left without any shortage - getting everything back.
On the one hand you share something very personal, and on the other hand you have no idea who it will come to.
On the one hand, it's an "easy" donation to make, which doesn't cost you anything, and on the other hand, it can give someone the most valuable thing of all, their life.

So, of all the donations, she seems to me the most obvious - as long as I am qualified, it is clear that I will continue to donate.

The story of Anat from Ramat Gan

This is the moving story of Anat, an 34 girl from Ramat Gan who has become an active blood donor.

And so she tells us: All my life I was afraid of needles and blood tests, so blood donation was never an option for me.

After the birth, which went well, there was bleeding and they explained to me that I needed to get 2 doses of blood. I realized that my obesity would improve my condition because I was very tired, with headaches due to low hemoglobin, and most importantly - without the ability to breastfeed.

It turns out that in countries as distant as Africa, it is a privilege to receive blood. That's what they explained to me.
After receiving the blood doses the improvement was rapid and significant, the recovery was much easier, I went back to breastfeeding, and I felt like I was back to myself. If I had not received the doses of blood, recovery would have taken long and exhausting months.

Since then, two years have passed and every son's birthday, I have decided that my celebration is to go and donate blood, and I do so with a big smile and a huge sense of mission. I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to approach and contribute. It will change your life and the life so desperate for donations.

The story of Shimon Redlich

In 1965, a young man arrived from Ramat Gan on his bicycle to donate blood at Tel Hashomer Hospital

After his mother told him that the owner of the laundry in the neighborhood was sick and needed blood.

When he finished donating, the clerk in charge of the records arrived and started asking the donor about his personal details...name...date of birth, etc.

When he told her that he was born in April 1949 all the station workers stood up and were on the market - what? Boy 16 boy donated blood !!!!! !!!!! It is against the law and regulations !!
Oh well… passed safely after filling it with a jug of water.

and then…
An elderly lady who answered "Nechma Berlinski" initiated on the spot that this child's blood type be tested.

When it turned out that he was rare B- she asked him if he was willing to join the list she had in her pocket with about 250 other people and would call him when he needed blood.

Well, the boy agreed in the place and joined the Blood Donor Organization, which was founded at 1936 in Tel Aviv.

Later he was the secretary of the organization and later chairman for many years with rich activity and today he is an honorary president with 103 personal contributions.

Because this kid is me… Simon Redlich.

The story of Ron Ben Yehuda, son of 18.5

I was born to a father who from a young age told me that to donate blood is important and even took me with him to several donations. When he showed me his blood donation card, I was amazed to discover a large number of donations. I saw on his donation card that there was room to register 150 donations and at that moment I promised myself that I would achieve this goal.

Today, 24 / 6 / 2019, I contributed For the fifth time Blood and accident were excited about my arrival because an urgent order of blood of my kind had arrived. I do not have a rare blood type, which shows that all blood is needed. Do a favor to someone random and to yourself, you will find a day without action and jump on a short half hour drive to the blood bank near your home, both healthy and life-saving.

I too donated blood and saved human life!

The story of Liel Teherani, 18 years old

The desire to help and influence is a value I was taught from home. In the 8th grade I donated hair and felt that it was an amazing act and that I wanted to save lives also directly.
After inquiring about the issue I came to a blood donation. I immediately connected to the idea because blood donation can save the lives of three people, given the situation where blood donation is separated into 3 components - platelets, plasma and the fluid itself.
The only thing that stood between me and the desire was the fear I had at that time of needles. I confronted this fear in the 11th grade with the help of an amazing nurse thanks to whom I realized that my "fear" of needles was unfounded.
At that moment I realized that the path between me and the goal, the desire to donate blood is short and I was planning to donate blood on the 17th birthday.

Unfortunately the birthday fell on a maturity period, after which I flew to London for two weeks. When I returned, my mother told me that in a few days, a blood donation would be held in the city (Beit She'an) and if I wanted to come with her. I am not a spontaneous person, but I felt it was my chance and it was better to never be late.
I made a donation accompanied by my parents and a good friend and the amazing paramedic who was there saw that I was a little stressed and told to trust her, trusted her and found that blood donation was not painful at all and made me energetic knowing that I had saved three people in a small stab.

Since then, the rest is history. I donated a second time on 5/2/2020 (again was an amazing team) and planned to donate blood for the third time on the 18th birthday, in order to give life the day I got the chance to live myself.
In my worst dreams I did not imagine that my next donation would be in the middle of a global virus, but precisely when I thought that the corona had destroyed everything, knowing that everything had "stopped", I focused on the really important thing, saving lives and more on my birthday.

I made a donation accompanied by a mother and a good friend and when I told the staff that it was my birthday everyone wished me good luck and many blessings and made me feel the most special
On this occasion I would like to To thank the amazing MDA teams Who always know how to say the right word at the right time, soothe, give a good atmosphere and make me think of the next donation as soon as the needle of the present donation comes out of the vein.
16.05.2020

The story of May Hershberg

I remember the first time I donated blood.
That was when I was a soldier.
I've always hated needles, I didn't like to see blood (believe I'm not the only one), but blood is something that was also hard for me to see.
But if there's anything I like to do it Help and donate.
I am a person who always thinks of others before thinking about himself, because it is always important for me to help and give more.
So when I heard that a blood donation truck was coming to the base.
I knew and felt that it was something I had to, in fact, say, want to do it.
So I filled out a blood donation form and I wanted to do it, I felt proud But most of all, I felt happy because I knew that donating blood was something small, but it could help someone big.
And since that day every time there is a donation truck I go straight, fill out a form and want to donate.
Once I've donated a small portion, I know I've helped
And I will continue to contribute every opportunity I have.

The story of Shahar Tamir's donation

Shahar Tamir arrived on July 1, 7 to donate blood.

Why are we telling you this? Because dawn is blind from birth, and it turns out that the blind (and not only them) must come with a companion to donate blood.
Shahar, a member of a blood donors organization for 21 years.
Shortly before the donation Shahar received a phone call fromAmnon Margalit, Active in the organization among the rest of his duties long ago phone people to come and donate.
In that conversation, which Amnon described as a long and moving conversation, Shahar said he was happy to come and contribute but had no companion.
It should be noted that Shahar, 45, has so far donated 45 doses of blood. 

Amnon did not hesitate, and picked up the phone to the chairman of the blood donor organization, Yoav Bar Ze'ev, Who immediately volunteered to arrive and take Shahar to donate in a mobile that was that day in front of Tel Aviv University.

On this occasion, on which Shahar made his 46th donation, he received the organization pin.

Shahar served in the army in the IDF for 3 years and after his release he remained a working civilian in the IDF.
During his military service, the soldiers and civilians at the station would have competitions to see who would donate more blood when a donation van arrived. When he was a soldier Shahar encouraged the soldiers and when he became a citizen working in the IDF he encouraged the citizens.

Shahar works as a DJ at night at private events and paddles in the sea during the day (pun intended).
Shahar's couple also donated blood and began donating when they met 7 years ago.
Both have blood type B +.

After the army Shahar started donating blood at the Magen David Adom station in Jerusalem and when he moved to the center he donated blood at the legendary donor, Esti at the MDA branch in Alkalai.

I spoke by phone with Shahar following the current donation, his story moved me and our decision in the organization to publish it here on our website.

Yes, they will multiply like you at dawn.

The story of Itai Yaffa's Donation

I'm a member of a blood donors organization.
Yesterday, 26/7/2020, after a nine-year hiatus, I returned to donate blood.
Nine years ago I got cancer and at one point I stopped donating when I regularly donated paresis.
Needless to say, the roles have changed and instead of me donating to people who suddenly need I am the one who needs.
Yesterday I returned to donate and the staff at Rabin Square was amazing!
There were three stunning girlfriends to one call Joseph one Chen, I think, and the third I do not remember.
Strengthens your hands
With me.

The story of Nathaniel and Rashai's contribution

I made my first blood donation as a 17-year-old high school student at the urging of my friend. I was somewhat afraid, while he was confident. Ironically, he vomited and I never have, 35 times later.

I donated again the following year at the University of Michigan, soon thereafter joining Alpha Phi Omega, the national co-ed service fraternity that would hold five blood drives each year on campus.

After finishing my university studies, I continued to donate off and on, bringing my young children to the American Red Cross to see what it is all about.

Having made Aliyah in 2019 and hindered by the pandemic closures, I finally succeeded in donating at a blood drive here in Israel. While it was different from the blood drives I had staffed or Red Cross centers where I donated, I am very happy to be doing this Mitzva in Israel.