Yesterday I donated blood for the first time in almost 3 years. I was on their deferred donor list for a year in that timeframe because of a vacation I took to Punta Cana. Apparently I was at high risk of having malaria.
I am the universal donor. This means that the Red Cross harasses the hell out of me. They call. They mail postcards. They e-mail. They are relentless! But it works. I feel a sense of duty to donate although some people believe that I'm donating to an unworthy cause and blah blah blah. But I don't care. I like to believe that my blood is helping a person to live.
I forgot how much I truly hate giving blood. I mean... its a needle that SUCKS THE LIFE OUT OF YOU SLOWLY. How does this not freak anyone out?! And being right-handed, I am convinced that everything (needles, finger pricks) has to be done on my left arm. I truly believe that its less sensitive to pain. Don't ask.
But I did it. My conscience feels better and I'll do it again if I am still able the next time they come around to my office building. Stupid sense of duty.
The volunteer was an old man who reminded me of my Grandpa. I know that sounds super dorky and it took a lot to not burst into tears and hug him. He gave me water and cookies. And it filled me with a sense of love.
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10 comments:
you have done a wonderful thing. yay you! i, however, cannot give blood as i've had sex with men after 1970-something ... another way homophobia asserts itself into our culture.
honestly, tho, i'm not 100% sure i'd give blood if i could. i really, really hate needles ... like to the point of being phobic about them, so i don't know ...
I love the questions you get asked when you donate. Like have you had sex with an ape from Mongolia since 1812?
A friend of mine donated for the first time in college. The person (I hate to say nurse, because surely nurse wouldn't do this) taking the blood struggled a little to get the needle in, but after he did, he walked away. Turned quickly and walked away. Ripping the tubing and needle out of her vein as he caught his foot in it all. he let her sit there and squirt. Didn't even notice until another nurse walked over and stopped the mess. IT WAS AWFUL!
Good for you!
I hate giving blood, but I do it and like to think I'm helping someone. I am of the universal donor variety too.
awww. My grandpa used to call me "rabbit" because I had horribly buck teeth and then no front teeth at all, so i was like the inverse selection of rabbit. Anyway, after he died, I couldn't look at a rabbit (it had to be the small brown kind that would steal your garden veggies, my gramps always kept a garden) without crying. Then I felt like it was him, keeing an eye out, which again, would make me want to cry again.
Ack! I'm going to have nightmares about that blood squirting story!
I used to give my blood every 8 weeks. Needles don't really bother me, and I feel good about having a chance to help people. That was until I had the gayness.
The Red Cross used to call me all the time, I have relatively rare blood and I'm CMV free so I was very popular with the ARC.
Needless to say, they stopped calling...they only write when they want something. I feel so used.
Seriously, they need to reevaluate their screening process. I think it sucks!
I'm so proud of you. I am deathly afraid of blood and get woozy/sick to my stomach every time I need a little vial of blood taken for tests. I also have a rare thing in my blood that doesn't allow me to give blood - but I wish I could. It's awesome of you!
I used to donate regularly, but forgot about it. I, too, have universal blood. I should donate again soon.
apparently, since i lived in germany 20+ years ago, i may have mad cow disease and can't give blood until they re-evaluate the criteria. they used to stalk me, too cause i'm o+ ("a type o hero").
i'm a universal donor too...but, unfortunately, i can't give blood. i had a childhood heart murmur and they're afraid i'll go into cardiac arrest or something while on the table.
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