The Red Cross has been hounding me for a bit to give blood again. I hadn’t gone for a while and so the phone calls began to increase in frequency as the emails became more strident.
So, I fought with the app for a bit to schedule an appointment and then gave up and called. And had to talk to a person. Like some kind of damn Luddite. Sigh.
I was glad I had the appointment, though, since the donation center was standing room only. Well, the waiting area, anyway. They did let you recline for the actual donation.
I had done the prescreening online and the blood pressure check and iron check when smoothly. They sent me over to the Double Red machine – or Power Red, as they are now calling it – and I got settled in.
And then… I dunno what it was, but I got crazy apprehensive. Like, fight or flight apprehensive. Which is weird – I’ve give blood so many times it’s best measured in gallons. I’m not scared of needles and I know the procedure and what to expect. But, still, I wanted out of there.
I took some deep breathes and texted Jim for support and then it was time for the needle stick. I looked away and felt the “pinch”.
(It’s not a pinch, dammit, and I wish they would quit calling it that.)
And then we were off. Squeeze every 5 seconds, eat some tums when the saline and plasma came back, and pretty soon I was done and off to get some cookies.
And I was fine. I don’t know what set me off – might have been the too loud and frankly terrible music – but I was all fired up for nothing.
I stopped to get a “second dinner” and then I was home. No biggie.
So, if you can, you should go give blood. Doesn’t take long, you get cookies and juice when you’re done, and it saves people’s lives.
Straight up super hero.