Never coming close to her high expectations for me I have always admired my mother for having encouraged my health care from an early age.

A career registered nurse, committed to community service she reached the plateau of head of pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente in my home town of Oakland, California.

Having given blood as a young adult was asked as an adult to participate in a 96Rock radio station sponsoring of a blood drive for a T-shirt.

Giving blood is a painless and direct way to help others in need immediately. I have been happy to give blood regularly throughout my adult life an average of three times a year.

To be frank this really makes me feel like a hero, as if my blood is so precious that by giving it; I give life itself.

The American Red Cross is an international effort that saves hundreds of thousands of lives around the world every year.