“It’s truly saving a life,” senior ASB Dance Director Barbara Magana said about the blood drive that took place Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Magana’s choice to volunteer to organize the drive was inspired by another event that happened when she was five years old: her brother had leukemia and needed bone marrow.

She said that it was ultimately her choice to undergo the stem cell collection operation, and that her parents did not push her to a decision. The nurses working with her brother explained to her his condition, and Magana claims that one of the main reasons for her decision at such a young age was that she wanted someone to play with.

Though there was concern about students taking the proper precautions prior to donating blood, Magana was glad that Principal Joe Bova gave her the chance to carry out the blood drive this year.

Student blood donors are extremely vital to the cause. American Red Cross volunteer Mike McAdam said that about forty percent of high schools make up blood production, and reported that over fifty students had signed up to donate blood that day.

Junior Joanna Chávez was happy to be a part of the blood drive experience. “I first did it last year, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. She was especially enthusiastic about potentially saving three other lives.

However, she witnessed a student fainting during the process. She said that nurses were quick to the unnamed student’s aid. “[It was] not dramatic like in movies, but it was surprising,” Chávez said.

Students who do not take the precautions prior to donating blood are prone to dizziness and/or fainting. Nurses in the F-pod supervised the student blood donors, making sure that they rested for the appropriate amount of time, ate regularly and drank water. Upon donating blood, students cannot partake in any physical activity for the remainder of the day.

Thanks to Foothill’s own blood donors, lives will be changed drastically.

“I look forward to donating when they come back in a few months,” Chávez said, “[it’s] just a little thing you can do to help other people.”