One call for help sparks a new Panama blood bank

For all of the negatives about the internet. It took just one hour to get an overwhelming solution to a heart touching concern posted on Newsroom last recently , thanks to the internet, the quick action of several community minded and caring representatives of different expat non-profit organizations, as well as local media and businesses. 

Boris Honok, an American citizen living in Coronado while awaiting surgery, discovered that hospitals in Panama were completely out of his fairly rare blood type; A-negative.
Initiated by a message from the Coronado Resident’s Association, the call for help started winging its way around the world; within minutes, it was published on Newsroom Panama and broadcast on the Breakfast Show, 89.3 FM, during the daily news bulletin provided by Newsroom. The American Society of Panama, and Expat Explorers picked up their share of the ball and ran with it. Not one, but several residents responded within the hour offereing to donate, leavingBoris  deeply appreciative for the caring shown by all.
This how one internet trail went:
While visiting family in Alberta Canada, regular Newsroom Panama reader, and indefatigable creator of Expat Explorers, Laura Alexander, opened her email and discovered the call for help. In her usual “think outside the box” way, she took the pass and realized not only this need could be satisfied, but also much more could, , be done. Within minutes, she emailed Fritz Schmutte, owner and convivial host of Panama’s leading German hostelry, Rincon Aleman. Fritz has been a supporter of many humanitarian projects in the past, so she approached him with the idea of assisting in setting up a Blood Donor Clinic.
Her intent was to request his assistance through the sponsorship of thank you coupons for every person who donated blood, Fritz’s response (received only 20 minutes later) was not only a yes to the sponsorship, but was also a surprising confirmation that Fritz himself was A-negative, and he  was willing to donate on immediately after his return from a business trip Within an of hour of the first   reading of the call for help Boris had been notified that a donor had been found, and  moves were underway to assist in rebuilding low blood bank levels.
The proposed expat blood clinic will  be open to everyone, but specifically geared to the expat community via an invitation for all members of every expat organization in Panama to band together for the cause. Although the the date and location have yet to be finalized, sponsors such as Rincon Aleman, and Dr. Charly Garcia’s Dentistry have already pledged sponsorship in the form of thank you coupons and/or draw prizes.
No grass, not even on the Alberta Prairies, grows under Laura’s feet; she has already been in contact with one of Panama’s leading hospitals and is awaiting their confirmation to host the event. So stand by to roll up your sleeve!
In the meantime we have received another call for immediate help. (See “Another call for blood donation”).{jathumbnail off}