Giving Blood

A photo I took of myself.

I have been afraid of needles since I was five and a nurse tried and failed seven times to draw my blood and when I was 14, I received three failed spinal taps to help my meningitis. I have also spent three years avoiding the star tattoo to commemorate my grandfather.

Now to the point of this tangent is that though I fear needles I decided to give blood to the American Red Cross.  

The American Red Cross is a worldwide humanitarian organization that has been around for nearly 30 years. There main focus has been to help communities who have been affected by natural disasters such as the earthquakes, hurricanes and tornados.  

In addition, Red Cross participates in helping military families, creating health programs, international relief programs and distribution and collecting of blood and blood products.

Blood donation notice. Photo by Allana Erickson

On March 2, I decided to donate blood with my boyfriend and was given a list of instructions to follow before I could give blood.

1.) Eat a complete meal within four hours of my prior appointment

2.) Double on fluids like milk, juice and water.

I didn’t do either of these recommended things and by the time of my appointment I had to down a Gogurt and 20 ounces of Dasani. When 3p.m. came around I walked into the South Ballroom of the UA’s Student Union very slowly. I was greeted by a volunteer who asked me to wear a sticker, hold onto a yellow folder and read a binder filled restrictions on who can give blood.

I then waited in a line before I was escorted to a small make-shift room. My information was collected, my blood checked for iron and my blood pressure recorded. The nurse then left me to fill out a questionnaire asking if I had a tattoo, if am a male who has had intercourse with another male and a variety of 23 other questions that can determine the validity of the blood. Once I was done I waited….

…and waited…

…and waited. The problem with waiting is that it intensified my fear to a point where I was in tears when the nurse came back.  She escorted me to a chair where I laid back, had my arm scrubbed and had a needle slowly inserted a needle into my “juicy” vain.

Once the machine started pumping I could feel my arm become cold and the needle pinch my skin, but that was it. It took ten minutes to file up a quart size bag of blood, which can be used to help three people in need.  The process took me an hour-and-a-half and I received cookies for my pain.

I was than instructed to double my fluid intake and meat a hardy dinner. I didn’t do either of these because when I got home I passed out from lack of fluid and food intake before I even had blood drawn.

If you would like to donate blood or volunteer in the Tucson area go to the Red Cross of Southern Arizona Chapter and please follow the rules about blood donation.