Not passing out = success in my book!

WOE IS ME #62 - Donate Blood.

I have a problem with seeing my own blood. Doesn't matter how little either, I can't watch them prick my finger or take the blood. So you see the delima with donating blood. My office has the Red Cross bus/van come to us every so often and we have a blood drive. I've attempted to donate three times, the first time my iron counts weren't high enough (and I was secretly relieved!), the second time I was on antibiotics for my toe and Monday was the third attempt. Isn't the saying "the third times a charm"?

I didn't sign up in case I was to nervous/scared to donate but told myself I wanted to try again. Monday morning, I went to the woman who coordinates the blood drive and asked what the first opening she had was -10 am, about an hour from when I asked. My friend M knows the fear I have of my own blood, and my fear that I would pass out and become a joke at work, so she said she would come with me and talk to me to keep my mind occupied and off what I was doing.

I go into the bus/van, get my finger pricked (which hurt really bad) and my iron levels were just above where they needed to be (they want to see 12.5 or higher and my count was 12.7). After answering a million questions, I was ready. The guy who helped me knew I was a first time donor and really nervous and he was awesome. They got the needle in (stung but only for about 10 seconds) and I was off and running. M and I talked about her marathon training, college and other random stuff I cant even remember. When I was about 3/4 of they way there, the Red Cross person had to readjust my needle (just pulled it out a little bit, which didn't really hurt) and had me squeeze a little foam ball every couple of seconds. Before I knew it, he said I was done. I couldn't believe it. It seemed like it took longer to read the booklet and answer all those questions then it did to actually donate.

I didn't feel woosey, or even come close to passing out. I have a little bruising on my arm and the finger they pricked, both spots are a little sore and you can still see the needle 'hole', but other then that, I'm good! My first time donating went so well, its making me think about doing it again. Maybe not right away, but maybe twice a year. I should be getting my donor card in 6-8 weeks which will tell me my blood type (another check off the list).

Did you know that donating one pint of blood can save up to three lives?