I gave blood today.
There was a fellow sitting in the line trying to psyche himself up enough to donate for the first time. He kept asking people to go in front of him while he watched and waited. His wife had given blood often in the past, but he seemed very apprehensive about the process. He stood by her, and I lay in the bed just next to hers.
Then I got sick.
It happens to everyone once in a while they say. But they lay me back, elevated my legs, and packed ice around my neck. They told me to cough every so often to "raise my blood pressure". I felt nauseated so they brought a big biohazard bag to lay next to me. As all of this is going on, the dude's eyes kept getting bigger and bigger. I managed to smile weakly at him, saying "Don't worry, this didn't happen to me the first time." Then I was overcome with a stomach cramp and I had to roll on my side with an "urgh".
After several minutes, the dizziness subsided. A nice tech brought me juice and a Little Debbie cake. I wobbled around the room for a few minutes before leaving for lunch. The frightened man was just lying down on one of the beds as I left; I wish I could have stayed to see how he fared.
Something disturbing about giving blood: before they stick you, they tape the tubing to your wrist. Then, when the needle goes in and the blood starts gushing forth, you can feel the heat of it as it travels down the length of your arm to the bag lying on the floor. Blood is hot. Hotter than you'd think it would be. And while I was getting sick, I was keenly aware that it was my life they were extracting from my veins. My life in liquid form; warmed by my heart and just barely contained by my skin, ready to spill out all over the carpet unless securely clamped off.
"Apply pressure and raise your arm over your head." Hold on to what you have left. They only take 1 of your usual 12 pints (around 8%). But 2.5 pints is enough to send you into hypovolemic shock. Are we all really that close to dying? I donated in a church, so of course my mind started wandering to thoughts of Jesus. "This is my body. This is my blood. Take and drink." It is a covenant between us. I will save you without knowing you. Blood is a powerful metaphor. I believe strongly in giving it.
I hope I don't scare you away from donation. Far from it. It's easy and I recovered in less than 15 minutes. I can give those 15 minutes of nausea to save someone who is 5 minutes away from dying. I encourage you to give as well. (And don't say you're scared of needles, because when you're seventy they'll be drawing a vial or two every three months. Might as well conquer the fear now. ^_^)
So. Good luck with living everyone. You know... just... keep doing it. Don't take it for granted either. The loss that could unmake it weighs less than 3 pounds.
