The Day It All Began: My First Blood Donation

The Day It All Began: My First Blood Donation

On April 8, 1988, I walked into the gymnasium of my high school as a typical senior, counting down the days to graduation. I didn’t know it yet, but that day would mark the beginning of a lifelong journey—one that would eventually take me across all 50 states, all for a cause that continues to add meaning to my life today: giving blood, platelets, and plasma.

I remember the folding chairs lined up, the nervous energy of classmates, the excitement of a break from class—and the quiet sense that something meaningful was happening. 🩸

What I didn’t realize then was that I had been preparing for this moment all along. I grew up watching both of my parents donate blood and care for others in our community in countless ways. Their quiet, consistent example left a lasting mark on me.

As I sat in that donation chair for the first time, I felt a strange mix of nervousness and calm. I can still remember the exact spot—along the stage in the front of the gym. The staff was kind and reassuring. I remember them telling me that one donation could save up to three lives. I watched the blood slowly fill the bag, wondering where it would go—who it might help. In just a few minutes, it was over.

I walked out of that gym and off to the cafeteria for lunch with a wrap on my arm and a quiet sense of pride. I had done something small that could mean everything to someone else. I knew then that I would donate again. But what I didn’t know was that, years later, I’d make it a personal mission to donate blood in all 50 U.S. states.

Looking back, that was the moment... that was the spark... that was when something changed in me.

Today, that spark has grown into Blood Across America—a project inspired by the knowledge that a single donation can offer someone a second chance at life, driven by hope, and fueled by the simple yet powerful act of giving. I’ve now donated more than 17 gallons of blood in 49 states, and I’ll complete my 50-state journey on June 14, 2025—World Blood Donor Day—in Honolulu, Hawaii.

But this mission isn’t just about me. It’s about reminding everyone that one unit of blood can save up to three lives. It’s about inspiring others to give for the first time—or return for the next. It’s about creating moments that may have otherwise been lost forever—for patients and their families.

I’m grateful for that high school blood drive back in 1988. It started me on a path I never imagined—and one I’m still walking today, with purpose, passion, and a strong pulse. ❤️

If you’ve given blood before, I’d love to hear about your first time. If you haven’t yet, maybe today is the day you start your life-saving journey.

Give Blood. Save Lives. Create Moments.
— Vinton Smith
Founder, Blood Across America