Donating Blood

This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I decided to try donating blood. I’ve attempted to donate twice before, once at my high school where I was rejected for having had a vaccine within the prior two weeks, and once at my church, where I was rejected for having been our of the country within the year. I hoped that this time I would be accepted!

The American Red Cross is often on the Penn State University campus holding blood drives, and reasonably so. With 40,000 young and healthy people walking around campus, it’s an ideal location to recruit donors. I signed up online for one these drives to give a whole blood donation, or a one-pint donation.

Having made the appointment, I walked over to the blood drive being held on campus in Kunkle Lounge where I signed in, read over material describing the donation process and sat down to wait for my name to be called.

Despite everyone’s calm and matter-of-fact demeanor, I was still nervous about the needle they would stick into my arm, and whether or not I’d faint. I’d been trying to stay hydrated, so I thought that would help. But before the needle or side effects, I first had to get through the screening process.

After about 15 minutes, my name was called and a nurse took me back to a secluded area for a screening. My palms began to feel clammy. This was the part I’d failed in the past.

I answered questions about myself and then she proceeded to take my information, temperature and blood pressure. It felt like being at a regular check-up! But then she took out a needle I was not expecting to see.

In the past I’d always failed the screening process before reaching this stage of it. The nurse was about to use the small needle to prick my finger to check my iron level. Suddenly my hands went from clammy to hot and sweaty.

I am not a fan of needles and, although I knew they would be using one to draw blood, the unexpected one about to puncture my finger was discouraging.

I scrunched my face, looked away and held out my hand to the nurse who sat behind a plastic panel in case blood squirted from me finger toward her. In an instant there was a sharp pinch followed by a small red dot. She collected the blood and replaced it with a band-aid. After verifying the level of iron, I was cleared to give blood. I had passed!

The nurse seemed pleased that I was excited to give blood. I suppose most first-timers are scared about a needle being prodded in to their arm or the possible side effects of donating. At the moment I was just really excited that I’d passed the screening process.

She guided me over to a padded bench and examined the veins in my arms. After having me lay down she cleaned the area in between my right forearm and bicep and got the needle ready.

Again, with a deep breath, I turned away and felt a sharp pinch, followed by a slight burn (from the iodine the nurse had applied) and then relatively nothing. Looking down toward my arm I saw the tubes become red. I was pumping blood!

After about 10 minutes, my whole blood donation was complete. I proudly looked down at my bag of blood. I’d never seen so much of my own blood before. Sure, I’d seen other blood before, but that was my blood and, for whatever reason, I was immensely proud of it.

The nurse helped me sit up and walk over to a table for refreshments. I felt neither dizzy nor faint. I simply felt happy. With little pain I’d given blood knowing it was for a good cause. It strikes me as odd that, although as people we are all so complex and different, we are all made up of the same basic parts.

I’m extremely happy that I donated a pint of my blood and, after 56 days and given I can pass the screening process, I’d like to do it again. I like thinking how what once pumped through my arteries will have the chance to save someone else and pump through theirs.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

For more information about the donation process or how you can donate blood, please visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/.