Blood.

I have received postcards from the American Red Cross telling me about blood drive dates ever since the first time I tried to give blood when I was 17 years old. Key word there was tried. The first time I was able to give blood was my senior year and we had a blood drive right inside my high school. We could get out of class to go to the gym and give blood. It was kind of a big deal if you went to give blood, then you could show off your I GAVE BLOOD! sticker, had a reason to be lazy during class and a good excuse to say you were "sick" and needed to go take a nap in the nurses office. Well, the blood drive just so happened to fall during the swim season. My senior year I was the captain of the swim team at my high school and we were training for the Sections swim meet, but our coach gave us permission to give blood since it wasn't a meet day. So, I skipped class to go and give my blood so I could be cool. Well, unfortunately I didn't have high enough hemoglobin (iron) in my blood to donate. So I didn't. But, a few months later there was another blood drive in Holdingford and my BFF Madge went to the American Legion to give blood. That time, her iron was too low, but I was able to give blood. So I did. It took a whopping 4 minutes to take out whatever amount it is that they take out at a time. I guess my blood was happy to be on its way somewhere to save someone's life. I do remember when the nurse handed me my arm and told me to keep pressure on it while she went to check on the person in the bed next to me. She came back and was going to put the bandaid on and I was ready to go. Well, she pulled off the little gauze pad she gave me and apparently my blood didn't clot like she thought it would. It was grossest and coolest thing I have ever seen. My blood spurted up out of my arm like almost an inch. Hahaha at the time I just laughed at the nurses face, she strapped my arm up with some wrap thing to put pressure on it and off I went to the table for some juice and cookies. 10 minutes later I was across the street at the cafe getting ready for my shift at work. It was all good. Last July, when Rodrigo was up here with me, we both decided to give blood together. It took forever and ever but Ro was able to give blood here and is now registered with the American Red Cross. He has O- blood. I have O+ we are the same, but different :) Anyways. That day giving blood didn't quite go the way it did for me 3 years earlier. This time they said I could sit up because only the rookies needed to lay down. HA! About 3 minutes into it, I passed the fuck out! Within 10 seconds I would say I felt light headed and then bam! The next thing I remember is looking up into like 5 faces all saying my name over and over again and telling me to keep my eyes open for them over and over again. It probably took 5 minutes to get me out off lala land and then came the lady with a paper bag. She then shoved the bag over my face and pinched it to my nose. I swear she almost squeezed my nose ring right through and out the other side!! OUCH! That woke me up a little bit. So, there I was during the busiest time of the blood drive... in front of people I knew breathing in and out of a paper bag... and I would have to say I was struggling with that task. I felt like such a moron. Of course Ro hadn't even started yet because they were taking forever doing the paperwork, but he told me he stood up and peeked over the wall, the nurses wouldn't let him over by me because they were scared he would panic or something. In November when the Red Cross called to tell me of the upcoming blood drive at the high school, I didn't go. For one, I was scared of passing out and second I was working overnights and my job was a bit more heavy lifting then working at a cafe. So this year when they called, I said yes. Why? Because passing out didn't really do any damage to me after getting over the embarrassment nothing was physically wrong with me. So, today my mom and I went to give blood. I told the guy that I for sure wanted to lay down while giving blood because I passed out the last time. So, there I was laying there talking to the guy about my life, Chile, airports, my life... Pretty soon 4 minutes had gone by and I could tell I was almost done and he went about doing whatever it does when the bag is full. I think they take like 2 or 3 little vials of blood not sure what for but whatever. I was almost done and then I felt it. I could feel my face turning white I told the guy I felt a little light headed, he looked at me then shouted, "We have a rebreather here." Whatever that means... off I went to lala land and woke up again to 5 people standing over me telling me to open my eyes. There was a huge fan blowing cold air on me, an ice pack under my neck, and a cold wet towel on my head. And I didn't even care. At least this time the guy holding the brown paper bag was cute, and didn't squeeze my nose. It took a bit longer to get out of lala land, but I was finally up and walking over for some juice and caramel rolls. Oh I wish it ended there. I sat down was munching my caramel roll and was on my second cup of water after the cup of juice and I felt it again. Ushered back to a bed, I almost passed out AGAIN!! And I can't figure it out. I ate before I went, I drank water right before the 2 minute drive to the Legion, and I passed out anyways. The sight of blood does not bother me and the needle going into my arm does not bother me, so I think no matter what I do, I will probably pass out the next time I give blood. Maybe my body just doesn't like losing 450mL of blood in less than 5 minutes. I will continue to give blood even though I know I will probably pass out every time. And Ro will probably make fun of me every time too. He sent me a message saying you passed out twice this year?? You nerd. I wrote back, I didn't pass out twice I passed out 1 and a half times : P Well, off to bed because I think I'm going to Duluth tomorrow :o) Nighty night!!