Friday, February 11, 2011

Ouch, Charlie

Maybe you think this is weird, or too much information, but here it goes.
I like giving blood.
I know that sounds strange, a lot of people can't even think about it, but I do.
I like the feeling that I'm helping other people.
It's not difficult.
You lay on a bed and squeeze a ball for 3 to 7 minutes and you save up to 3 lives. It's nice.
I also enjoy the snacks. It's like free lunch.
I try to give blood as often as I can.
However, like most things in my life (planes, stairs, etc.), I'm not very good at it.
In high school, my mom banned me from giving blood at the school blood drives, because I always ended up looking like someone had beaten me (They sent the trainees to Broken Arrow High School blood drives. Not the best)
At BYU, though, I've had success. I can do it not very many minutes, usually just in between my classes.
I've never passed out.
But I do bruise easily.
Somehow, I always end up having these veins that don't want to relinquish their precious syrup of life. So, the nurses have to persuade them by moving the needle.
This is what happened on Monday when I gave blood in the ward blood drive.
Today, (early Friday morning) this is what my arm looks like.

Good thing it's winter and long sleeves are acceptable, people might think I'm a druggie.

1 comment:

  1. Yeah, there's a reason I swore never to give blood anywhere but the Red Cross, when I was in high school. Everyone always walked around with black and blue arms on blood donation day. It took me a long time to start to trust drives done anywhere but an official site.

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