“I want to live, too!”, as we look at the faces of children who suffer from a debilitating blood disease called thalassemia we are inspired to mobilize everyone we know, to give the gift of life – our blood.
 
    God hasn’t forgotten these children, and neither must we ever forget to share the gifts we have. Even though giving blood is a comparatively easy gift to give, it is a spiritual act of love for those children who need regular transfusions virtually every month of their lives.
    However, finding enough people who are willing to donate can be a challenge. In Tirana alone, there are over 500 children afflicted with thalassemia, looking for help from those of us who are willing.
 
    The Albanian Red Cross supplied us with instructions a week prior to the drive, and with a medical staff the day of the drive. And so, this year on the 26th of January 2008, the orthodox youth of Tirana sponsored a blood drive at the “Bethlehem” center.
    In the past, other drives have taken place at the orthodox youth center in Tirana and in another center’s, and especially at the Theological Academy at St. Vlash in Durrës.
 
    Each youth contributed to their afflicted brothers and sisters by offering 400 grams of their blood. There was a large turn-out of those who were eager to express their love, as Our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us to do – to love one another as He loves us.  As Archimandrite Kosma Prifti said, (in attendance to spiritually support the drive and make a blood donation) it is a “spiritual act to give of oneself selflessly for such a worthy cause”. 
 
 
By Elesa (Matilda) Hoxha
 
Translated by Emanuel Pupi
 
Edited by Melanie Linderman                                                                                                            
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