• Home
  • About
  • About Me (Scrapbooking)
  • About Pt 2
  • Disclaimer
  • My 17 Before 2017 List

Heather's Adventures in Lesotho

Attempting to document my everyday life

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Christmas/New Years Trip to the U.S.: By the Numbers
Insane courage »

Donating blood

29/01/2012 by heatherawsumb

On Friday I checked off the second item on my 17 Before 2017 list that has a recurring deadline – annual blood donations. (The only other recurring goal is to read 42 books per year.) I had to give myself some leeway after re-discovering blood donating on my list at the end of the year when work commitments got in the way of getting to the blood bank before I left for the year. Since I can’t donate in the U.S., I gave myself until the end of January to count for 2011.

I added annual blood donations to my list because it is way outside my comfort zone. Shamefully, until Friday I had never voluntarily given more blood than is necessary for physicals. In fact, the first time I ever had blood drawn for medical purposes was for my pre-Peace Corps physical. The doctor used a butterfly needle because I’m such a wimp. I even passed out one time giving blood for a mid-Peace Corps physical (although I’m pretty sure that was due to poor technique by the MO). At the same time I think that being a blood donor makes you a good grown up. My Mom is a great example. I remember her donating regularly when I was growing up through blood drives at church or school, etc. My brother-in-law is also a regular blood donor. I’ve just been a wimp this whole time.

Friday’s experience at the blood bank was fine. The worst part about it was when the nurse grimaced when she saw the tiny veins in my arm. I am not joking. I recruited several friends to come along and the staff at the centre were thrilled to have us. There is a desperate need for blood products in Lesotho and in most developing countries. Maternal mortality here is high and sometimes those deaths are as a result of not having blood to give when a woman has postpartum hemorrhage. The staff at the blood bank told us that if we had called ahead they would have come to us. For just 4 units! That really struck me.

I’m keeping annual blood donations on my 17 Before 2017 list, but now my intention is to go every 3 months and to try to bring someone new each time.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted in 17 before 2017 | 5 Comments

5 Responses

  1. on 29/01/2012 at 17:32 Karla

    That is great! I used to donate blood regularly. Then in 1999 the changed who could donate. Because I lived in Scotland in the mid 1990s they said I no longer could donate. It is still something that makes me sad, I wish I could still donate. Good for you!


    • on 30/01/2012 at 20:51 heatherawsumb

      Yeah, I have a friend who went to boarding school in the UK in the mid-90s and he also can’t donate in the U.S. They don’t have the same restrictions here and I think it shows more that people in the U.S. & Europe can be a little over protective.


  2. on 29/01/2012 at 22:57 Louise Smith

    Blood donations are awesome. Thanks for reminding me I need to get out and do this. Unlike you though, I have HUGE veins – they pop right out of my arm – a phlebotomists dream.


  3. on 01/02/2012 at 22:47 Mom

    Way to go Heather! I’m sure Red Cross will be calling me again soon to donate. They call every six weeks like clockwork!


  4. on 14/06/2012 at 08:36 World Blood Donor Day « Heather's Adventures in Lesotho

    […] blood donor as part of my 17 Before 2017 list. Unfortunately I waited too long to go back since the first time I donated in January and was recently advised not to since I am so close to climbing Kilimanjaro and I need all the red […]



Comments are closed.

  • Other Places You Can Find Me

    My Gallery at Designer Digitals.com

    My Gallery at Get It Scrapped.com

    Pinterest

  • Follow me on Twitter

    My Tweets
  • Goodreads

  • Top Posts & Pages

    • One Year Later
    • Currently (February 2016)
    • Saying goodbye to Lesotho
    • My 10 Commandments of #funemployment
    • Currently (December 2015) (Vacation Edition)
    • Currently (November 2015)
    • What Comes Next ...
    • Currently (September 2015)
    • Currently (August 2015)
    • Latest Obsession: Grown Up Coloring
  • Categories

  • 1-Photo Layout adult coloring books Ali Edwards Ankarana National Park Arches National Park Big Picture Classes Breaking Space Cathy Zielske Christmas coloring book coloring books Contrast Creative Team Debbie Hodge Designer Digitals Digital Scrapbooking DLW CT Document Life Workshop Gallery Wall Get It Scrapped GIS CT Guided Study Critique Workshop Hello Story Katie Pertiet Kilimanjaro Lady Gaga Lesotho Madagascar Maseru Players Company Masterful Scrapbook Design Multi-Photo Layout Multi-Photo Layouts One Little Bird Designs Panorama Photo-Less Layout Pinterest Pixels & Co. Safari Sahlin Studio Scotty Girl Designs Scrapbook Coach Scrapbook Ideas Scrapbooking Scrapbooking Ideas Scrapping Two by Two Sehlabathebe National Park Tanzania Tension Traci Reed Typography Unity Utah Zoe Pearn
  • Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 1,446 other followers

  • Get It Scrapped.com

  • Masterful Scrapbook Design.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
    %d bloggers like this: