“When you wake up, get up. When you get up, do something.” Jaime Salas heard these words frequently when he was growing up. He evidently took them to heart, because he has helped many people.

Jaime first donated when he heard that a child needed blood. Jaime and several co-workers donated and when a thank-you letter arrived from the parents, Jaime was touched to see that his donation had really helped someone, so he began donating whenever the bloodmobile came to his place of work. After he retired, an STBTC recruiter called and asked him to consider becoming a platelet donor. Now he comes in every month to donate platelets, which are small blood cells that help control bleeding.

Jaime is just short of reaching the 10 gallon donation mark. He donates for a very simple reason: “I feel great. I leave knowing I’ve helped someone, regardless of why they need it. It could be a baby that’s sick, like that little one I first donated for. It could even be a guy who got shot; hey, he still needs blood.”

Jaime recalls working with young, healthy men who seemed proud that they never donated blood. He says, “Donating is a selfless act that helps a child grow; lets a mother go home to take care of her children; lets a father go back to work.”

As a Hispanic, Jaime knows the need for other Hispanics to donate and the reasons why so many don’t. He says, “I’ve often talked about this with my friends and family. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He adds, “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t donate.”

Jaime sees donation as an opportunity to save a life. “That’s what appealed to me. We do what we can to give someone a second chance. I look at it as giving someone a gift.
It’s a great gift.”

Indeed it is, Jaime. And many south Texas patients are glad that when Jaime Salas gets up, he does something.