Saving Lives

Today was our first of three blood drives that my class sponsers throughout the year. I was concerned yesterday that we wouldn't meet our goal and that the drive would flop. I had my students running everywhere, recruiting their hearts out. Things looked better by 3:00 yesterday. I arrived this morning, prepared to be stressed because I thought I was going to deal with the charge nurse from a very bad place. Thankfully, it wasn't her (I got a list of names the day before and her name was on it). I had my "favorite" charge nurse to work with! So, I'm all smiles and ready to start at 8:30 when the charge nurse asked if we could start early. Of course I jumped all over that! By 12:45 we had already reached our goal of 42 pints and my students were working their hearts out, registering people, checking IDs, making sure they ate well, and then picking up those who didn't fare so well. They loved getting the call that someone had passed out! (I have an average of 6 each drive and this is my 6th drive to sponsor). I also had some students working our bake sale in conjunction with the drive to earn some extra HOSA money. We closed up shop at 2:00 to finish those people who were already in the room to donate. By 3:30 when the last Red Cross member left, our total for the day was 62 pints!!!! We saved 186 lives today in Social Circle!! I'm so excited I'm close to tears. This is the best drive yet and it's because MY STUDENTS ROCK! You can't tell me any different, I have the best students(even with the not so best ones mixed in!) in the world!
I am going home for the first time in a week without a migraine...crazy thing is...I'm hosting a lock in for 8 teens tonight from my church and I'll be leaving at 7 am to go to class tomorrow morning. Forgive me if I'm a tad bit sleepy! It's been a wild, yet fun and exciting week!