Pechanga Casino and Resort as a Community Lifeline, Essay Example

I want to tell you a about a girl named Melissa. She is five years old, and is just as lively as any other girl her age. Melissa plays with other kids, brings her teachers joy, and is truly the apple of her parents’ eyes. She kind of sounds like your son or daughter, doesn’t she? In fact, she is your son or daughter minus the healthy heart that your kids have when compared to her many cardiovascular problems.

You see, Melissa was born with several heart defects that caused her to undergo major surgery when she was just one week old. “No,” you say. “Open heart surgery is for adults.” That’s what many parents think until their child is under the knife. It is usually not until then that parents realize the importance of donating blood.

Not surprisingly, the American Red Cross is experiencing a major shortage in blood supplies. While many are willing to donate during disasters, few go down to their local chapters and render a pint of blood on a regular basis. This should not be.

In the same manner that Melissa had to undergo an unusual surgery for a child her age, she also required an irregular amount of blood to survive the operation. Doctors used over 50 units of donated blood to save Melissa’s life, all of which came from the American Red Cross. Imagine if such units had not been available at the time. This five-year-old who brings joy to all would only be a memory.

Melissa is not the only one to benefit from donated blood. Thousands of individuals who have been considered the epitome of health have, at some point, needed a transfusion. In all frankness anyone, including yourselves, can, at any time, be standing in need of an extra pint of blood that is not available due to shortages. It only takes one car accident to place you in danger.

So, having all of this in mind, my question is simple: Why aren’t we doing anything? Why is it that a popular destination spot such as Pechanga is failing to host a blood drive for our local American Red Cross chapter?

I understand that such event is time consuming, which is why I am willing to do everything that I can, on and off the clock, to see to it that the drive is successful. In essence, all that the casino would be asked to do is provide food and drinks to donors. The publicity from the event will surely pay for such investment several times over.

Besides, wouldn’t you want your family to be fully cared for in the case of an emergency? If yes, then why would you refrain from getting involved with such a worthy cause?