First time donor

[marathoner452]

I want to thank all my 43Things friends for encouraging me to give blood. I put it on my list because I worked for the Red Cross last year and because it was something I wanted to do but could never quite get up the nerve for. You all gave me so many cheers I couldn’t back down, not that I wanted to anyway.

They took such good care of me. The woman doing my interview wanted to know all about subbing and my time in New Orleans, and the woman who took my blood had a great sense of humor. My mom came along for moral support and to donate. (She was unable to because of low iron but will “iron dope” and try again on Friday.) It didn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would, and this is coming from my who hid behind plants in the doctor’s office as a kid to try and avoid getting a shot. I have now earned the purple bandage on my arm and my t-shirt. I have a ton of blood donation shirts from my parents, so it’s exciting to have one of my own now. :-)

I already scheduled my next appointment. March 5th, same location. I’ll be eligible about a month before that though, so I might not be able to wait that long.

I’m going to go eat my cookies now.

See more progress on: Give blood

Comments

[batemanenroute.livejournal.com]

Congrats! It's an amazing feeling to give blood. Unfortunately, I'm not eligible to give through the Red Cross. And Virginia Blood Services won't take my blood either. Bonfils did, however. But that's in Colorado. *sigh*

But good for you! :) (Did you know that they've reduced the 5 steps to 3??? I was shocked and saddened to hear it.)

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I imagine all the time you've spent in Africa would make them a little wary of taking your blood, for better or for worse.

I'm still going to put the 5 Steps bumper sticker on my car. I was disappointed to hear they'd changed it too-the 5 aren't that hard to remember, and they need to stop changing their slogans so people don't get confused. They got rid of the "Together, We Can Save a Life" back in March. (There's very few people who could have a discussion about that, you know? But we're just cool like that.)

[batemanenroute.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, they seem to be ok with the Africa part, it's the Switzerland part that gives them the heebie jeebies. Something about Mad Cow. (Oh how I argue with them about *that* one-- we never touched beef while we were there for that very reason! Riddle: how can a non-beef-eater get Mad Cow?)

Is there a new slogan to replace the "Together" one? (It is nice to have this discussion...) Also-- do you by any chance teach Babysitting?

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I don't have CrossNet access at the moment, so I can't keep up on the Red Cross news. After giving blood last night though, I'm thinking of getting back to being involved in some Red Cross stuff, if only so they'll deploy me for the next "big one." I'd love to teach classes and volunteer at blood drives too.

[quick-step.livejournal.com]

Boca burgers have a lot of iron in them.

What's this about 5 steps (or 3)?

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

The 5 steps used to be Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Get Trained, Volunteer, Give Blood. I've been out of the Red Cross loop since September so I'm not sure what the new 3 steps are.

Raisin bran has a lot of iron too, especially if you drink oj with it so you absorb the iron better. That's my trick, and I didn't have a problem with the iron, but my mom fails that part of the interview about 1/2 the time.

[black-op.livejournal.com]

Thank you for donating! I've been trying to get more people to donate off and on for years(once I feel I've talked a year's worth into donating, I'm letting myself get the tatoos I've wanted since High School). I've donated for Red Cross, Good Samaritan Hospital, and a Hospital group out in California. None of them take donations from people who've been to Africa, all of them refuse for a year if you get any tatoos or piercings.

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I can count as one of your year's worth of people. :-)

[black-op.livejournal.com]

I would, but you were good enough to donate all on your own. I'm only counting people I've talked into it who otherwise wouldn't have. I appreciate the offer though and am still glad you donated.
Hope things continue well in your world.

[saltariel.livejournal.com]

Yay! I was always afraid of doing it and now I can't b/c of being in England for over 3 months. *shrug* What can you do?

[canrenell.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, they're working on a test to check for Mad Cow disease so some of you might be eligible to donate within the next few years :)

[checkout-bound.livejournal.com]

yay! you're braver than I am!

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

It's really not as scary as I thought it would be. If you let them know you're a first time donor and you're a little nervous, they take good care of you. Actually, they take good care of you no matter what.

I figured there was no good reason not to. I'm young and healthy and I'm done with marathon training.

[inked2x.livejournal.com]

Good job! I am proud of you!

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

Thanks!