I'll do again tomorrow something that I've found can really make me - and you too - feel worthwhile.<p>I got a call this morning from NIH (National Institutes of Health - my office is just a couple miles away) asking me to PLEASE come in and donate platelets tomorrow to a patient I match up well with. They call me several times a year with these short notice requests and my bosses are always supportive to let me take the time to do it.<p>You can do it, too. Many hospitals - especially ones who have large numbers of cancer patients - have their own blood and platelet donor facilities who are always looking for pin cushions. I started 8 years ago when my son was diagnosed. NIH later found me through the bone marrow donor registry.<p>I can't recommend a more worthwhile thing to do to help you feel important - something we here seem to have a craving for.

WAT,<p>I can't give blood since I have been in a third world country in the last five years. Would this have the same prerequisites? Thnaks for the suggestion.<p>knight

Hi knight - yes, I think the restrictions are the same. When I go to NIH later today I will ask them which countries are currently on the restricted list.<p>WAT

knight - the current screening at NIH - likely similar elsewhere - is a question asking if you've traveled outside of the U.S., Canada, Europe, or Australia in the last year. If you have, you may be excluded for certain countries, depending on the extent of your travel and your activities. This is a general screen for various infectious diseases. (There is also a specific screen about living in certain areas of UK for a certain time frame related to the mad cow disease episode.)<p>Another screen is for LIVING in certain African countries since 1977. This is a specific screen for HIV.<p>Hope this helps.<p>WAT

WAT,<p>Thanks for the info. As with blood donation, the areas I was in in Mexico and Guatamala exclude me from these types of donations. I am glad you are donating as long as you were able. I was an active blood donor before my trips out of the country, so its a little frustrating but it is for the safety of those recieving those donations.<p>Take care,
knight

knight - I recommend you ask specifically at a donor center - perhaps you've done this already. I'm going to Belize in June. I'll ask NIH what restrictions this will create and repost to see if it's pertinent to you.<p>WAT

WAT,<p>Thanks for looking into it for me. I was in Belize about 5 years ago, it is a beautiful place. I'll check back later.<p>knight