"I used to donate. I should do that again." Yes, you should. If you don't remember when you last donated, chances are you're eligible again. You can donate every two months! I mean, I don't do that. And I get turned away often enough (darn, iron levels). But unless you've done something else that makes you ineliglible, you're good.
"Where did you donate?" I went to the website of the local donation agency and made an appointment. This time it was at a blood drive at a local hospital.
"Did you get Oreos?" I was the last donation of the day, so they were packing up as I donated. They left one of each snack out for me and told me to take the ones I didn't eat. I got Oreos, and popcorn, and pretzels, and animal crackers, and a granola bar, and fruit juice. "I like fruit juice." Cran-raspberry. It's good. I'm going to take my extra container, mix it with some yogurt, and make mini popsicles.
"Your blood's lighter now." Whaaaa?
Actually this comment was the opener for a "the health benefits of donating blood" conversation. I don't know much about it. More oxidized? Lower iron levels?
I do like having the information from the mini-physical. Because I've moved so much, it hard to track it (I should start a spreadsheet for my health data!). But it's fascinating to see how much my health data varies. See the graphs my current provider has?
They're also available for pulse, cholesterol (all sorts of measures there), temperature. Good stuff, I tell you.
"Some things are a mystery." The guy drawing my blood pointed out that we don't know how to make a living cell. This blood, even though it's no longer inside of you, is still living. While it's not exactly a tithe, I'll keep giving as long as I can.
3 comments:
tried donating last month and got turned away cuz of the iron. sighs. the nurse was extremely rude to me too! i complained and they had a rep actually call me back. unfortunate experience.
Sad experience indeed.
Iron's always my trick too. No reason for her to be rude about it.
I'm doing it: I'm commenting, though not because I have anything particularly significant to write. I just would like to tell you that even though many of my co-workers get annoyed when they have to give a patient a blood transfusion (it takes time, paperwork, sometimes lots when there's a reaction to the blood), I love to give a blood transfusion. Because:
1. The thing about living cells.
2. It makes the recipient feel better. I can give drugs or hold a hand for pain, anxiety, nausea, but it wears off so fast. The feeling better that comes from a transfusion is real--it's like I'm giving pure energy.
3. I like to think of the anonymous donor, of course.
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