A few days after donating, you'll receive a thank you letter from the blood bank. This letter mainly indicates whether or not your blood was healthy and useable. If it was not, it will tell you the reason why and provide you with a phone number if you have any questions or concerns. It's especially important to follow up with the blood bank if your results indicate that you have an infectious disease.

The letter will also let you know your blood type, which is a really useful piece of information to hold on to. The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center will also let you know your cholesterol levels, including total cholesterol. Finally, the letter will let you know when you are next eligible to donate. Assuming your blood was usable, this date is eight weeks (56 days) from the date of your donation. The letter will state for what period of time you may be deferred from donating if you blood was rejected.

I hope all of you who do not already donate blood will see if you are eligible. And if you are, I hope that you'll make the effort to donate on a regular basis. So little can help so much!