I was unconscious when I received my first lot of blood transfusions. Suffering from internal bleeding, following the birth of my daughter, undoubtedly the health care team were working hard to save my life. Dramatic as that sounds I probably would have had a very different outcome had it not been for the fact that blood was available and given to me on that day. 
I was still unwell but conscious for the final blood transfusions I received. Utterly exhausted I looked up at the bag of red slowly dripping into my body and noted on the label the date the blood was donated. It was my birthday, two weeks previous.

I do not imagine that the person generously giving blood on this day knew it was my birthday or knew that in a couple of weeks their blood would be given to me as one of the best gifts imaginable. Nor will they ever know personally how grateful I and my little family are to them for it. Truly the most amazing birthday gift!
You honestly never know when you’ll need blood. I certainly didn’t expect to need it and so much of it! So if you can, and most of you could, please please donate.