Photo: Harbus for News via NY Daily News Ex-President Bill Clinton talks to the press at his home. The former president had two stents put in his heart on Thursday to clear a blocked artery.

It might have been a little old lady who saved the Former President's life this week. She may or may not wear dark glasses. She wouldn't know she saved a President's life, but that doesn't matter — her motivation is completely democratic. Besides, it could have been any one of her peers in this special Secret Service who saved the Former President instead.

It might have even been you.

Or it could've been an Asian man or a young Latina... A churchgoer or not... A school teacher, or a cab driver or a starving artist... the peer group in this special Secret Service is called: other humans. Only instead of taking a bullet for a President, these "civil servants" take a needle. For anyone.

I'm talking about blood donors.

There's no substitute for it — Anyone who undergoes surgery needs another human's donated blood. When I saw the news that Former President Clinton had emergency heart surgery this week, I was in the chair at United Blood Services making a donation myself. Newscasters reported that trips to earthquake-ravaged Haiti may have been a factor in the stress on his heart, which made me think of all the donated blood needed there.

My contribution will likely be used at a hospital in Las Vegas, though I have no way to know, and don't need to. Part of the beauty of what I'm calling this special Secret Service is that who you're helping is not a factor — it only matters that when another human being needs it, it's there.

Here's the thing: Despite how easy it is to donate, not so many people do. According to Americasblood.org less than ten percent of eligible adults make at least one annual donation. I understand that in my city, that number is roughly three percent. I donated platelets because since the procedure takes a little longer, it's even harder to get volunteers.

So on this weekend we're celebrating love, think about your human peers. Consider participating in this special Secret Service — You might not save a President's life, but you'll definitely help someone else's.



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