I don't know why I hadn't done it before. I wrote to my Doctor and handed in the letter personally, stating that I was no longer a JW and did not share their beliefs.
I felt relieved afterwards.I was just on my way to the dentist, which is fairly hazardous, as I am immuno-suppressed, (not AIDS), and it has been on my mind for some time that I could quite easily become too ill to express my opinions. So this has taken a weight off my mind.
Not quite DAing, but it might be a step in that direction.
I remember the feeling when I put my Blood Card through the shredder. Very exhilirating. It was also a huge relief that my children would never wonder what would happen if they ever needed blood.
It was a horrible feeling when I was growing up that my parents would have preferred my brothers and me to die rather than 'pollute our bodies' with blood transfusions. It's still disturbing to me.
The day I tore up my blood card, I felt relief. It took me a little while to do it - not because I had doubts about it, but because it was a significant step in my leaving the WTS. Once I took that step, I felt freer than I had for many many years.
Thankyou for all your lovely kind replies, I have kept a copy of a blood card (not in my purse) as a reference, This was the complex HCAD dealing with blood fractions and end of life decisions. It did feel good telling my Dr I was no longer 'one of them'.
It was a big thing for us when we were asked to go and see the consultant when Angharad was due to have Dylan (our youngest). She was concerned about Angharads blood disorder that affects clotting and the fact that the case notes had "Jehovahs Witnesses - no blood" in them ... and was visibly relieved when we told her we were no longer believed that and then explained just what a risk it was (although she would have repected our wishes).
We watched her put some big lines through the words in the file and it felt good - definitely a big step out.
Our other big step was putting 'jedi' under 'religion' on the Census form
