I originally posted this on my old blog on March 3rd, 2008. I donated a pint today and thought I might as well re-post it.
I’m never rolling in excess cash. As a matter of fact after after 5 years of undergraduate, and 2 years of graduate studies, my financial portfolio is a nice round negative number. I don’t have money to give, I am spending my next several years worth of paychecks as it is. I am living the American dream: Debt, liberty and prosperity.
So, when it comes to giving, I look inside myself. Actually the nurse looks at my left arm and stabs me with a sizable needle. I make it a point to give blood to the Red Cross whenever I can. It’s easy and fairly harmless. I am type O positive, which means I am a universal donor. That also means the red cross wants me to bleed whenever possible. The Red Cross always seems to be in the middle of a blood shortage. When my date comes they call me like a stalker ex-girlfriend until I finally come in and let them tap my vein.
Blood giving, or letting was something I feared. I hate needles and I have been known to get woozy when I see people bleeding. My first time made me incredibly anxious and I was desperate to get it over with. It made me feel ill, I was weak but I went back 2 months later and did it again. A gallon of blood later, I am almost competitive. I try to fill the plastic pint bag in record time. Nine minutes from start to finish is my average. I ask my fellow donors in the collection site if they want to race. Maybe being cocky about donating blood is dumb. But it makes me feel good, the whole process, well sort of. Think of it this way, your body makes this stuff, and if you take some out, it makes more. Giving up a kidney is noble too, but I can’t regrow them, and I don’t need more scars.
Helpful hints: Drink plenty of water before and after. Don’t go if you think you are sick. Eat a steak, they test for iron content (no one wants anemic blood). Despite the warnings of avoiding alcohol, after a donation, I’m a pretty cheap date. Sometimes they have pizza in their canteen.
If you haven’t donated blood, try it. If you can’t (it happens) don’t worry about it. You can always volunteer to help others donate. I’ll be hooking my left arm up every two months regardless. It’s only hour of your life every two months, but you can help save lives.