This week’s item from my bucket list was a rather special one as I got to do it with my sister who is visiting from The Netherlands! I can now cross off #82 Donate Blood!
We decided to go to Square One, where there is a permanent blood donor clinic in the mall. It’s located down at the end of a small hallway and looks just like a small doctors office with a waiting room, and a few beds set up in front of a T.V.
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| A tad nervous... |
At this point we had to get pre screened with some minor questions and then get an iron test to see if our iron was too low to donate. Apparently our iron tests were beyond good and the nurse even joked that she wanted to steal some of it from us! She also said to thank our mom for her cooking and that she deserved a sticker!
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| I got a sticker for being a 1st time Donor! |
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| Just a minor prick! |
From there we went to another room to fill out some more questions. Nothing too stressful!
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| Just when I thought mid-terms were over |
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| Denied! |
Unfortunately this was the end of the road for my sister. It turns out because she has lived in Western Europe for longer then 5 years she is not eligible to donate in Canada ever! The reason for her being ineligible is because of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak in the U.K. that happened in the early 90’s. For the less intellectual individuals, such as myself, I am talking about mad cow disease. Fortunately, being the good spirit that she is, my sister then became the happy photographer, proud of her little brother.
At this point it was time for the needle! I pictured the needle to be a little smaller and fit in my veins a tad easier than it did. The nurse wanted me to look away but I refused to for the sake of this blog. As she put in the needle it seemed like a very slow pushing and turning motion. Maybe I’m a suck but it seemed like the needle was too big to fit! All crying aside, I got it done and it really was not all that bad, I promise! After all, the nurse explained that I was potentially saving 3 lives! Three people with only half a pint of blood, WOW! For you late night folks, that’s only a mug of beer at Jack Astor’s! The best part is that all that blood I donated today will be fully replenished inside me within 24 hours!
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| The picture doesn't do the needle any justice... |
I swear I’m not looking at her like I want to hurt her!
I’m A. O. K!
She was so nice to us! She even put on The Big Bang Theory for my sister and I to watch.
Look at all my blood!
Time’s up!
Maybe I can get on the wall behind us?
Group Shot! At this point I really started feeling like a patient and like something was wrong with me.
Best part of all… Juice and cookies!
So remember, one visit to the blood donor clinic and you could save 3 LIVES! After all… “It’s in you to give”.
For more information please visit Canadian Blood Services
Or
Call 1 888 2 DONATE (6283)
Good job Bredrin, I am so out of touch with this process and you totally got me thiniking of giving blood for the simple stat of 'give blood, save three lives'. That's crap about 'Sis' not being able to donate but coodos to her for holding your hand through it and crossing another one off the list!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
SI