Life Giving

[BlueBard]

I gave blood today.

I got one of those stickers that reads, "Be Nice To Me, I Gave Blood Today!"

Why don't they have a sticker that reads, "Be Nice To Me, Because I Gave Blood And I've Felt Cruddy Ever Since!"?  I'd wear that one.  But then nobody else would give blood.  And besides, it wouldn't fit on the sticker.

So it's just as well they don't.

I know why they give people the sticker.  One, it's a way to brag about how selfless one has been.  Two, it's a way to get sympathy.  Three, it's a quick way to tell why that lady down the hall is passed out on the floor.  (No, nobody actually passed out; it's just an illustration.)  Four, it's advertisement; it's meant to get people thinking about giving blood.  (Read: guilt trip.)

For the record, I don't like giving blood.  It makes me tense.  I don't like pain and I don't like feeling cruddy and giving blood does both to me.  It's not worth the free juice and cookies.

But, tomorrow, I'll be glad I did it.  I'm one of those O+ people whose blood can be used for almost everybody.  My blood will be used to keep somebody else alive, and that's a good thing.  It's worth the discomfort and feeling cruddy for a little while.  I gave life.

I say this not to brag or get sympathy, but to make a point or two.

In the interests of not bringing offense, I'm going to be a little indirect for a moment.  Please bear with me.

There is a major religion that teaches that eternal life comes through the forgiveness of God.  And it teaches that this forgiveness comes because one very special person willingly gave his life, his blood, out of a great love and compassion for Mankind.

And that is the reason I gave blood today, despite how it makes me feel.  It is so little in return for the blessings I've been given and the love I have received and it is a way that I can show love and compassion for others.

So give blood once in awhile.  Save a life.  Count your blessings.

Me, I can't wait to go home and lie down.

[bearded]

i get free juice and cookies?

[Uncle Yuan]

And the satisfaction of saving a life.  That's a win-win-win!

Which reminds me - it's coming up on a year since my last travel to the developing world - time to get a few units in while I can!

[thalaw2]

I like giving blood.  I gave over a gallon of blood since high school. My blood is CMV negative (it doesn't have the CMV disease that most other people have) so it's supposed to be "super clean" and hence can be given to AIDS and cancer patients as well as new born babies.  

I like the feeling after giving blood and then going out and having a few drinks....I don't recommend that at all.  I'm a big guy so maybe the effects of losing so much blood are a bit diminished for me.  I've only felt a little dizzy once after giving.  I always stay in the recovery area and eat my juice and cookies for at least 30 min before leaving.  I've seen people pass out after giving...and it ain't pretty.  

Lately, I can't give blood because now I live overseas and I think I would have to be back in the states for more than a year before my blood would be accepted.  When I first heard my blood was "super clean" i was worried about trying to keep it that way and I abstained from a lot of things....a man can only go without certain needs for so long so at 25 I started "misbehaving" (that means drinking).  My blood type made me feel like the weight of the world was on my shoulders.  The Red Cross would call me every three months and always asked if they could take more than the usual amount, I always allowed them to do so. Eventually, I felt that i had to start living my own life and not worry so much about the cleanliness of my blood or if I'm really saving lives.  I'm not God....I'm just a tinny little super guy!!!

Anyway, I strongly support giving blood and if I am ever able to return the states permanently I will gladly start giving again.

[zuludelta]

Last time I gave blood was to get one day off of compulsory military service, the infantry company I was in had a program where we could exchange a limited number of service days a year for emergency blood donation or civil disaster relief... I always took advantage of those whenever I could, better that than spending another day going over the same mind-numbing drills.

[BlueBard]

i get free juice and cookies?

Uh, huh.

Used to be, they gave you orange juice and chocolate chip cookies.  That was pretty much all they had.  Now they give you a choice between water, orange juice and apple juice and they have a bunch of different kinds of cookies.  They even had Fig Newtons.

[BWPS]

Reading this topic has honestly made me lightheaded and my wrists hurt. Thalaw2, I wish I could take back reading the word gallon in your post so bad. I won't give blood unless it's to save someone in my immediate family's life. I can't even stand to think about it. And it's weird. I freak out if anything touches my wrists. But if I start bleeding out of my face or leg or the top of my arm or something, that's fine.  I even used to put staples all the way in the top of my arm. (I have no idea why so don't ask). But anytime someone says the word artery or I see that evil bloodmobile, I get lightheaded and the wrists start throbbing. Yeah, I'm a wuss but I'm not giving away my blood, I need that stuff to live.

[BlueBard]

BWPS, they don't take it from your wrists.  Usually top of the forearm, near the crook of the arm.  Same general place they'd stick you if they were getting a blood sample.  Just think of it as a slightly larger blood sample. 

I don't watch because I don't like the sight of blood and I don't want to see the needle going in. 

So yes, even us wusses can give blood.

If you can staple your own arm, you should be able to handle giving blood.  Two pints is all they take; nobody dies as a direct result of blood loss from giving blood.

[BWPS]

BWPS, they don't take it from your wrists.  Usually top of the forearm, near the crook of the arm.  Same general place they'd stick you if they were getting a blood sample.  Just think of it as a slightly larger blood sample. 

I don't watch because I don't like the sight of blood and I don't want to see the needle going in. 

So yes, even us wusses can give blood.

If you can staple your own arm, you should be able to handle giving blood.  Two pints is all they take; nobody dies as a direct result of blood loss from giving blood.

I know, I have given blood before. But thinking about my blood going into a little bag directly from my veins freaks me out just to think about. I have a common type, so I think the world will be ok with letting me keep mine.