…I decided to save a life. Maybe three.
It's about time, too. Twenty-plus years ago I didn't weigh enough; that excuse has been invalid for decades (shame on me!).
As I was pulling out of the school parking lot, a funky custom bus parked in front of the office captured my attention; it slowly dawned on me what it was.
A blood drive to celebrate Valentine's Day (their slogan? Have a heart!).
Sooo…I circled around to a parking place, walked inside to register, was subjected to the Grand Inquisition answered a few standard questions (no, I don't have Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease aka "Mad Cow", I haven't shared needles with anyone lately, I have never paid for nor received payment for "services", nor do I have malaria, and I haven't had a kidney transplant OR a tattoo in the past year), and I was good to go.
The only problem? Wait, there were two: 1) My camera wasn't with me, and 2) my face was au natural–I'm sure I brushed my teeth, I think I brushed my hair, but I hadn't yet put on make up. That, in and of itself, isn't that unusual…being photographed and posting pictures on the interweb without make up is. I'm vain that way (except for the time I intentionally posted my naked face).
In the name of all things "public service announcement", I'm takin' this one for ya, though. Saved by my cell phone camera and and smiling big enough so you wouldn't notice the dark circles and uneven skin tones, I'm thinking there's no better way to celebrate Valentine's Day. This might become a new annual tradition, even if it's not as fun as my other.
See? Don't they make you nice and comfy? My feet are elevated, I'm drinkin' a Sprite (I was already maxed out on caffeine :/) and they gave me a cute little sticker to wear that says, "Kiss me, I gave blood today."
I couldn't watch when they pricked my arm; they kept it covered during the Draining of the Blood, but uncovered it to photograph it. Anything for the blog, yes?
The Blood Assurance staff, professional and donor savvy, found a way to keep my mind occupied–"Just squeeze this ball every 5-10 seconds." Heeey, after ten minutes of that, I've got my exercise in for the day!
From start to finish, it took m a y b e half an hour tops. The needle prick hurt less than a paper cut, they gave me cookies and crackers and soft drinks and juice, and they sent me home with a lovely new tee shirt and their sincere appreciation.
And my donation might've saved three lives, or at minimum helped someone else.
What's your excuse for not donating blood? Unless you have a medical reason not to, would you please reconsider and look up your local agency today?
🙂
{OOooo, and be a love–please visit all the Pensieve Poet-teers below
who wrote Sonnets of Love to celebrate today and this month's Poetic License!}
Hey! We’re running in the same vein… get it, vein? Moving on…
Last week I wrote about giving blood too. It’s amazing how easy to do and how refreshing it makes you feel as a person afterwards.
Thanks for saving a few lives today. It’s a most excellent gift!
Well, you look beautiful to me. Way to spend V Day, helping others. I’d love to donate blood – used to donate regularly – but I’m not allowed any more. Because I lived in England for 3 years, I can’t donate because of Mad Cow Disease. Yeah, even though I left England in 1992. You’d think I would have been exhibiting symptoms by now, but no.
I wish i could donate blood. But back in the day i didn’t weigh enough. Now i have a heart condition and some kind of strange thing going on with my blood. I have an antibody mission. Not sure which one but i have to take asprin everyday. I wish i could save a life that way. But there are other ways to help!
Oh, I am SO glad that you did this! Our high school kids are having a blood drive today but I am not eligible to donate until the 27th when the bloodsuckers will come back to town for us.
This made me cry. It really does save lives. My daughter, 35 this year and perfect, had 3 complete transfusions as an infant after a car accident.
My other daughter, in danger of hemorrhaging to death after childbirth, is alive today because of a blood donor.
You so rock!
Well done Robin! MDW gives three times a year (and has done for 20 years), but I’m one of those “Unless you have a medical reason not to…” people. I did use to donate regularly before that though.
Happy Valentines Day xoxo
Oh that picture of the needle made my legs go all weak!
Well done for donating and being brave about it. I usually have to have a quick faint when I do it. At the moment no one wants my bloo as I just moved from Mexico!
Kudos to you! Hey, in case I need a transfusion in the next few days, just what is your blood type? And do hospitals take requests? (“I’ll take a pint of Pensieve, please. I think it might help with my poetry skills.”)
Good job!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’ve been a blood donor since high school, although these days I usually wait for a blood drive to come to me. As soon as I’m sure I didn’t get anyone’s flu while traveling this week, I’ll stop by my local blood center.
I gave blood…once. But I have nightmare veins and it was brutal. I walked around with the biggest bruise on my arm and swore I’d never give again unless they found smaller needles. What? That’s why I don’t give blood. Gregg on the otherhand is always donating. He’s up to 75 donations I believe. He’s got that universal blood and they are always calling for him to come in. Unfortunately he works out of town so much so he doesn’t give as much as he would like, but when he’s in town he always goes.
Shalee, (gigglin’…), punny girl, you are :).
Karl, why thank you…and for the record, WHAT are the symptoms of MCD??? Mooing uncontrollably??
Tiff, your last sentence is the one that counts! You just gotta be more creative :).
Sandy, wow…that really hits home. One person CAN make a difference!
WT, my…I’m all warm and fuzzy after that :). I always knew YDW was a keeper :).
Alix, “bloo” sounds so much nicer than “blood”, don’t you think? I guess it took me this long to get over my fear of needles. I will NEVER be a heroin addict :/.
Stephen, ya know, I’m not sure what my type is, but it’s definitely negative. Which is kinda a downer since I’m pretty positive otherwise. (And you’ve got mad poetry skills…I’ve read your stuff…speaking of which, it IS PPL time, ya know…) :).
Heather, thanks and back atcha ;).
Avg Jane, I wish I had done this before now…it’s just so doggone easy and bloodmobiles are all over the place these days.
Wow, Joy, good for Gregg! And YIKES for when you did it. I don’t have bruising (yet) but I didn’t lift anything heavy with my left hand today…not that I would have otherwise, :).
Thank-you.
They should use you to head a donor campaign!
Great post.
I actually do have an excuse. I got a tattoo in Sept. I have to admit though, it’s not something I enjoy doing since they can never find a vein and I end up just super upset and overpoked (but yes, hopefully I saved someone’s life too. I do still do it, but I can’t for 7 more months.
I gave once…they made me sit there while 3 other people came and went after I was done, and i still fainted (out cold-total KO) and was sick the rest of the day. I just can’t do it again.
I have never done it, too afraid of needles. Nice that they covered it for ya, and took pictures! My hubby does it, this last time he got a really cool shirt with the twin towers on it. I want to steal the shirt but I can’t until I give blood.
Maybe one of these days…
BIG high 5 to you!!!
3 “hearts” to you – I am a regular donor and have quite a collection of t-shirts !!
I’ve never gave blood and just seeing you do it and blogging about it….makes me want to go give blood!!!! GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! =) It’s great to give!!!! =)
Looks like you made the BEST of it too!!!! =)