So there I was at Café LANG to drop off a few flyers and to get a slice of their awesome Red Velvet Cake (a must have if you haven't had it yet). I told Nikki (one of the owners of Café LANG) that I was considering going to donate blood at Harcourts (just down the road from Café LANG) and she said I should do it because its an amazing feeling and two of her staff member had also gone to donate.... I decided to take a drive passed Harcourts, I parked outside their yard and sat thinking for a few minutes about whether I really want to do this.
All sorts of thoughts went through my mind about how my sister had told me that the needle is huge and that they take about 500ml of blood. My mind was racing and while thinking of all these things... I found myself greeting Nella and Devyn at the Harcourts door. They both thanked me for coming but I was still not sure whether I am going to go through with it.
Anyway I approached the lady from SANBS who gave me a pamphlet to read then said I should fill out the form if I agree and understand what was written on the pamphlet. I nodded and she passed me the form. I stopped and asked the SANBS man next to me "how much blood are you taking" she giggled and replied "about 475ml" I was relieved coz it was 25ml less than what my sister told me and that made the worlds difference in my mind. I then turned and asked the SANBS lady across me "I hear the needle is quite big, how big is it?" she said "it is big but not thaaat big" I once was again relieved. She asked if I was nervous and I didn't hesitate and responded with a huge nodding of my head. She smiled and said "the more nervous you are the more it will scare you and it might just hurt" I thought about it and said "ok I'll calm down while filling the forms out" she agreed. I filled the forms out and handed them to her. She signed them and told me to take them to the bus that was a few feet away.
I walked to the bus, handed the forms over to the SANBS lady inside who I recognised from earlier when I told them about my knee injury and the meds I had taken for it. I was slightly relieved to see Devyn in the bus already giving blood.
I can honestly say the most sore thing was the prick on my finger for the iron test, which they lady said wouldn't be sore but told me afterwards that she was joking coz she knew I'd probably not want to do it LOL which is actually very true! I then laid down on the bed and watched the man prepare the area where he would insert the needle, which he got the needle I looked away and told him to tell me when he was done... he said "Don't worry it doesn't take long, and there you go, its done" I was like... you can't be serious! I was preparing myself to scream from the pain. It was painless! I must admit though I was shaking non stop until the last drop!
And just like that it was over, he was putting a plaster on and I was fit to go. I put a brave face on and went to have a glass of juice and those awesome biscuits.... that they only give you three of hmmm... LOL. I was then good to go with my certificate below:
Below is a picture of
my arm
Below is my reward (half-eaten) Red Velvet Cake
Last remarks: Donating blood was well worth it, knowing that I helped save someone's life by just giving the few millilitres I have made a difference in someone's life, in someone's family's life. Donating blood is not as scary as people make it out to be, its actually quite fun, there are people there along the way making sure that you are ok. You walk away with a little wiggle in your step and that warm fuzzy feel good feeling. Please don't walk away if you feel dizzy... LOL only kidding. Walk away proud and come back 60 days later to give a little more *wink*
Thanks again Harcourts Mthatha for the little push *smile*
Wiggle wiggle
Giggle giggle
Big smiles
