Note: Totally unrelated to the current post but…the post I’m working on about Lego Lover turning thirteen will be password protected. If anyone that I know is reading and needs the password, please contact me,

Once upon a time, far away from here…specifically Greensboro, NC in the USA, I was once an undergraduate college student. Blood drives were organised, probably every two or three months, and held in the student center. I became a first time blood donor on my college campus and donated several times while I was a student. I remember getting some sort of recognition for reaching a gallon of blood on my eighth donation. There were a couple of times I was rejected due to low blood pressure. Ironically my brother, who is just a year younger, was rejected the same year due to high blood pressure. I think there might have been another rejection related to low iron once also.

The process to give blood amounted to standing in line and waiting my turn. It was a bit like a factory where you stopped at a table to do the admin part, moved to another table to have a small amount of blood checked, then on to portable beds where the actual donation took place. Afterwards there were drinks and cookies given out before you left. Depending on your place in line, you could be in and out in well under and hour, possibly as little as half an hour. Most of my memories are vague from those experiences, except for one. It must have been one of those really hot days outside where the air conditioner was running full blast and the room was quite cold. I remember it because I was freezing through the entire process. I finished and went to have my post-donation snack when I began to feel really lightheaded. I was taken back to a bed to lie down and a blanket was brought for me. I think I must have stayed there another half hour before I was released. I very specifically recall finally making it outside and enjoying the warmth for at least the first few minutes.

I think I made one donation once I finished my studies and then I came to Australia a few years later. I was pregnant and/or breastfeeding for much of the next ten years so I didn’t think to donate during that time. And since that time I have procrastinated. Over the holidays the Scientist and I heard an ad asking for blood donations as the supply was quite low. We both decided we would do something about it this time. It took a bit of time but I eventually was in contact with the blood donation centre and organised an appointment for today. I was given instructions to drink several glasses or water and/or juice and to eat a substantial meal before I went in.

I arrived exactly on time for my appointment and the receptionist was quite pleased to see I’d shown up. Apparently a lot of people oversleep on Mondays and miss their appointments. This morning, everyone had turned up on time. The first order of business was to fill out three sections of a multi-page form. The first part was for first time donors and I had to complete that since I was new to donating here. The other parts have to be completed each time and both involved numerous questions to screen for eligibility.

Once I finished, I waited for a few minutes and was taken to an assessment room. My height and weight were checked and my blood pressure and iron levels were also checked. Then came the business of going through the form. Most of the focus was on those eligibility questions. The status of my various health conditions had to be clarified. She hadn’t heard of Sjögren’s syndrome but it seems it was fine so long as I don’t require medication right now. I had to spend a fair bit of time explaining where I have lived and traveled since I moved to Australia. It’s not as though I’d traveled all that much either but details were requested for everything since I’ve been here. Apparently I passed through all the hoops so got to move on to the donation area.

This was a long room with maybe six to eight spaces for people to use. There were two people who must have been donating plasma or platelets as they were hooked up to machines that weren’t being used on the side of the room where I was placed. Instead of a bed, we had lounge chairs that could be shifted into different positions depending on the needs. I sat for a little while before anyone attended to me. I had a blood pressure cuff placed on my arm and my pressure was checked a couple times during the process. A small machine was moved next to my chair and the blood bags were connected up to the machine. Eventually the needle was placed and my blood started to flow. The machine controlled everything though. It showed the target amount (470mls) and the amount collected so far. It also kept track of the flow rate. It must have taken 10-15 minutes to reach the target. Once the needle was removed and the wound taken care of, I had to sit for another 10-15 minutes. Once finished, I was advised to do no heavy lifting the rest of the day, drink lots of water, etc.

I was then sent to the canteen where I was given tea and snacks. I found out later I was supposed to have chosen a substantial food and a snack food. I also found out that milk shakes were one of the drinks on offer. Next time I will know better.

I must admit I found it kind of funny that I was referred to as a first time donor at every turn. Kind of amusing at first but then a bit tiresome after a while. I kept having to explain that I have done this before, just not in Australia. The first time status was, of course, forgotten at the canteen.

I made the mistake of popping across the road to the mall, and soon regretted it as it was packed with families on school holidays. Worse, I didn’t get out immediately but did a bit of shopping before moving on. I made two more stops along the way home for food stuffs and somehow managed to be carrying a rather heavy bag in the end. It was quite a relief to finally arrive home and relax for a while before I had to go out in the evening for a couple hours.