Vitalant to present

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

In honor of National Donate Life Month in April, Vitalant urges all eligible donors to make an appointment to give and ensure every patient who needs blood can be treated without delay.

Every day, nonprofit Vitalant needs nearly 500 donations along the Central Coast to support local patients, including those undergoing organ or blood marrow transplants. A single liver transplant surgery can require 20 or more units of blood.

Vitalant is thanking all blood donors who give now through May 15 with a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card redeemable by email. Donors who give Friday through blogs. This way we can stay close and connected, even though we are both doing our own thing.

• Get counseling before (or after) making a life-altering move.

Making big changes in your world is bound to be stressful, and you want to make wise decisions, so it’s fine to ask for help. Now before you freak out at the thought of what hiring a life coach or business adviser would cost you, there are some great alternatives.

Consider taking a friend, who has some knowledge in this area, out for coffee. Or invite an expert or professional out for lunch and interview them.

There’s no harm in asking, “What would you do if…?” Or look into finding a mentor through SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives).

There’s a SCORE office in almost every town, or you can go online.

• Do your own investing and don’t live beyond your means.

If you really do need investment advice, talk to your accountant, and do your best to avoid stockbrokers. They’re expensive and rarely right. Statistically, the monkey with the darts did better than 95% of them.

Once you trust your own ability to invest and your money is making money, you will feel much more empowered. No, you probably won’t become Warren Buffett, but you will be a stronger person, and it feels great to create a safety net for your family.

Being in charge of your own life is just a dream for most people. This is not a path for the timid, but those who brave it can reap great rewards and peace of mind.

Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., is an award-winning psychotherapist and humanitarian. He is also a columnist, the author of eight books and a blogger for PsychologyToday.com with more than 28 million readers. He is available for video consults worldwide. Reach him at barton@bartongoldsmith. com. His column appears Saturdays and Mondays in the News-Press.

Gift Cards To Blood Donors

Sunday will receive a total of $20 in Amazon.com Gift Cards.

Vitalant noted blood and platelet transfusions save lives every day, providing patients battling various medical conditions with the necessary blood components to get better.

Vitalant added that platelets are crucial for patients with cancer or blood disorders who may require chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which can damage their bone marrow and decrease platelet production.

Donations of all blood types are critical, and especially type O, because it is transfused the most often, Vitalant said. O-negative blood can help patients with any blood type, including premature babies.

Upcoming blood drives in

Santa Barbara County include the following:

• Wednesday, noon to 5 p.m.:

CSUCI, 5383 Hollister Ave., Goleta.

• Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.:

Carpinteria High School, 4810 Foothill Road, Carpinteria.

• April 10, 1:30 to 6 p.m.:

Foursquare Church, 125 N. C

Street, Lompoc.

• April 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

Santa Barbara City College, 721

Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara.

• April 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

Community West Bank, 445 Pine Ave., Goleta

April 12, 1 to 4 p.m.: Deckers

Outdoor, 6601 Hollister Ave., Goleta.

• April 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

Lompoc Valley Medical Center, 1515 E. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

• April 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Born to Run Marathon, 4155 Figueroa Mountain Road, Los Olivos.

• April 20, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Anderson Recreation Center, 125 W. Walnut, Lompoc.

• April 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Valley of Flowers Half Century Club, 341 N. N St., Lompoc.

• April 24, 2 to 6 p.m.: Camino Real Center, 7046 Marketplace Drive, Goleta. Eligible donors can also give at any Vitalant donation center including in Santa Barbara, 4213 State St. Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal.

To learn more and make an appointment to give, go to vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825. email: mmcmahon@newspress. com