India, June 17 -- The theme for this year's World Blood Donor Day - "Give blood, give hope: together we save lives" - beautifully captures the essence of what it means to donate blood. It is more than a medical act; it is a gift of life, a symbol of solidarity, and a powerful expression of compassion. Blood donors are unsung heroes whose quiet generosity sustains the very heartbeat of healthcare systems across the world. My own journey with blood donation began early, shaped profoundly by my father's long battle with a bleeding disorder. He needed countless transfusions throughout his life, but none as urgent as during a sudden, life-threatening brain haemorrhage. Emergency surgery saved him - but only because blood had already been donated...