Celebrate Life, Donate Blood & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #64

March 20, 2018 / 71 Comments

I know that I have mentioned in previous posts that every Wednesday morning I have a standing coffee date with an amazing group of women at our local Panera. The attendees are different each week and we often have anywhere from 5-12 ladies who show up. It is a wonderful opportunity to gather together and find a lovely community of beautiful, empowering, and inspiring women right here in my little town. I have to send out a thank you to my wonderful friends, Lisa and Cathy (they are the sisters who were featured in my Forever Fierce campaign post), for inviting me and including me in this fabulous group.

*This is not a sponsored post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

A few weeks ago at one of our coffee gatherings, I met one of the most inspiring women who exemplifies resilience, strength, empowerment, and selflessness and I just have to share her story with you as well as her mission. Her name is Joanne and she was diagnosed with leukemia in her late 40’s. I am happy to report that she is cancer free after receiving the necessary treatments. During her treatment, however, she did require and was the recipient of blood transfusions. As she told me her story, I knew immediately that I would be featuring her on my blog.

Meet Joanne, Cancer Survivor, Resilientista, and One Hell of an Inspiration

In our conversation, she recalled a moment when she was receiving her first blood transfusion.  She told me as she was sitting there, she began thinking to herself, “My goodness, am I grateful that people donate blood.” She explained to me that it was something she never really thought about before…the importance of donating blood…until she needed blood. Suddenly, this seemingly mundane public service that certain people willingly perform took on a new life changing importance of the highest magnitude.  As a result, Joanne will always remain grateful to people who donate blood. As Joanne was approaching her milestone 50th birthday last year, her husband asked if she would like anything special to celebrate the occasion. The only thing she could think to request was that he donate blood. That is all she wanted.

*Sweater: Women’s Ombre Eyelash Sweater – Xhilaration™ from Target.

Little did she know that her husband and friends took her request a step further. They surprised her by organizing a community wide blood drive with the goal of collecting 50 pints of blood for her 50th birthday. They fell just a few pints short of the goal, but Joanne was so overwhelmed with gratitude by this gesture that she has now taken the helm in organizing annual blood drives for her birthday. If you are local to the Watertown, New York area, you can support Joanne’s mission by donating blood to her “Celebrate Life” Spring Blood Drive, which will be held on April 4, 2018, from 12:00-5:00 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Gymnasium (850 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY). If you are not local to the area, you can still donate blood at American Red Cross blood drives in your area. You never know whose life you could be saving. Can you think of better way to spread the kindness than that? So I encourage you all, if you don’t already, to go donate blood in honor of my new friend, Joanne.

*Booties: Charlotte Russe Metallic Heeled Belted Booties.

*I purposely chose this outfit to feature in this post because of my oxblood colored booties and scarf. The color burgundy or oxblood is representative of healing energy, fierce powers, and strength of character in standing up for causes that you believe in strongly. Burgundy symbolizes your warrior status in the toughest battles that you will fight. So for Joanne, I wore burgundy. She is a true warrior if ever I met one.

And now your favorite posts from last week.

Maggie of Thrift Shop Fashionista shared a very empowering post, It’s Only A (Made Up) Number. I love Maggie’s story and I love that she has embraced her journey with open arms. That is what it’s all about, after all, in my opinion. Plus I think Maggie looks fabulous for a woman of any age because she is true and genuine and real! Keep rocking, my friend.

Maggie of Thrift Shop Fashionista

Elizabeth of Natty Gal shared her post, Resort 2018 OOTD. I am so crushing on her Lily Pulitzer dress and her palazzo pants and halter tank outfit (you have to visit her post to see that outfit). Fabulous styling, my friend! I hope you had an amazing vacation!

Elizabeth of Natty Gal

Lisa of Coast to Coast shared her post, Is It a Dress or a Tunic? Well, Lisa, I have to say that I don’t care what you call it, it is fabulous! And I love the way you styled it with leggings. The color is magnificent and you look stunning.

Lisa of Coast to Coast


Are you already a blood donor? If not, is this something you would consider after hearing a story like Joanne’s?

Celebrating life on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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Shelbee on the Edge