A short time later something impossible happened, I donated blood. I always thought it was a good thing for people to do that. I’d had so many bad experiences just with blood tests that I didn’t even consider doing it myself. I’m someone who stopped seeing a doctor regularly for years because I just couldn’t stand all of the blood tests. I did start going again regularly after the hernia surgery in 2014.
When I was in the hospital for five weeks, someone came in to draw blood pretty much every day. Not sure I’d say I got used to it, but I got to a point that it didn’t bother me like it used to. After the January 2024 surgery I was given a blood transfusion more than once. I thought of my mother saying that my Baltimore grandfather was doing better after he had a blood transfusion.
On top of all this, I’m type O negative, so I have a blood type that is especially in demand. I thought I’d give this a try and just see if I could get through it and sure enough I did without any major trouble.
That night there was the “MASH” episode with Radar playing records over the PA system. They needed a blood donor who turned out to be a guy from bomb disposal. I was never quite that bad.
Later I received some emails thanking me for my donation and telling me that I can donate again in August. Not sure I’ll do this every time there is a blood drive where I work, but now I know that I’m able to do it.
It is a good feeling knowing that I’m literally going to help someone stay alive.
Now I’ll just keep on going and see what happens next.