With the help of a friend, I've realized how important it is to give blood. You never know when the favor will be returned to you or your family.
With a son who plays hockey and a daughter who has already had stitches twice and surgery on her arm, we are destined for trouble.
I very strongly dislike giving blood. I get extreme anxiety every time they announce another blood drive. Thankfully I have a friend who's stronger than I am and she gets me there, because in the end it's worth getting over my fears.
Just so you know, I give blood extremely slow. My time this time was 12 minutes, but it's taken 45 before. To give you an idea of how slow that is, people usually are done in 5 minutes or less. SO, I'm at least twice the amount of time.
This time was like any other, and the tech was really nice, but she did a number on my arm. I usually bruise, but not like this:
Can you see the little needle hole next to the purple line?
All that caused the crazy bruising!
Plus, if you can't tell, it's blue, green and purpleish for about 2 1/2 inches around. Let's just say, it's not the most comfortable thing nor is it in a convenient place since I keep brushing it against my body.
Would I do it again?
You know I will, because my bruise will fade and soon be gone, but today I saved a life!
4 comments:
YIKES!!! Holy crap, Lady! That's nasty. You are my hero!
a good reminder. I've been thinking I should go give blood, but somehow it never seems to get on my to do list.
and OUCH!
Take it from someone who has a long-standing date with the blood bank every 8 weeks, DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!! All day the day before, I gorge myself on water, and all day the day of I do it up until right before. If you're dehydrated your blood is thicker and harder for your body to pump = slower to come out for donating. It has taken as long as 5 minutes for me before, but usually I'm done in 3 or less!
p.s. Good for you for donating, it's so easy to help someone in such a critical way! I've been doing it since I was 17. Shana is deathly afraid of needles but her church is having a blood drive for 2 people in the community who have been diagnosed with blood cancers and I was so proud of her that I said I would donate for them too, instead of my regular visit.
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