#18 - One Unit At A Time

I donated my 1st of 5 units of blood today. I found my donor card that I had received in 2005 and then subsequently filed it away into one of my many piles of papers that I maintain. Of course by "maintain", I mean "ignore". I used to donate regularly in college, but 2 events turned me off for a while. In college, I passed out once while donating blood for a lab experiment I was doing in a hematology lab. Then in medical school I attempted donating, but I filled the bag too slowly. I was more than 3/4 done when they told me that it had taken too long and the anticoagulants that are in the bag already would be at the wrong concentration if they continued. When I inquired as to what would happen to the blood, they told me it would be discarded. I honestly wanted them to give it back. I find blood donation to be one of the most personal acts of charity I do - literally giving of myself. I have no problem doing it when I think it will help someone, but this devastated me. It wasn't until 2005 - almost 10 years later that I tried again. There are so many exclusions nowadays that prevent people from donating, that I believe it is up to the rest of us who still can donate, to do so. In theory I can donate every 8 weeks, so the soonest I can go back is 6/9/07. However, I know things can come up due to illness or scheduling problems. I could donate 17 times in 1001 days, if I pushed it to the wire, but I set a more realistic goal of 5. If I meet it easily, I'll plan more for the next 101 in 1001 list.

If you want to donate blood, contact the Red Cross.