I came home today and was happy to receive my American Red
Cross blood donor card in the mail! I gave blood for the first time in early
July after many months of saying that I was going to start giving, and the
partnership the Athens Area Humane Society has with the Athens Blood Donor
Center--Caring is Cool--was a big push for me to take finally the leap.
I had a horrible first experience having blood taken in
college because the nurse at my doctor’s office rolled my vein, resulting in a
very painful experience and a black elbow for about a month. I know that these
things don’t always happen, but it put a sour taste in my mouth for having to
give blood unless absolutely necessary! But this happened so many years ago, I knew
I just had to get over it. My boyfriend gives regularly, and every time he went
to give blood I would feel so guilty… especially because I know I am type O-
and thus a universal donor.
My experience giving blood about a month ago turned out to
be such a pleasant one! The receptionist greeted with me a smile, and my nurse
(also named Amanda) talked me through every step of the process and made me
feel at ease the entire time. I came in late in the day to donate, but they didn’t make me
feel rushed and even encouraged me to stay as long as I needed to before
leaving afterwards.
