I gave blood!!

Posted by Sammy on Jul 8th, 2009 | one comment

I had a nice breakfast this morning, waited for the docs to do their rounds and then around 10am I decided it was now or never. So I walked downstairs and made my way to the NIH blood bank. I filled out some paperwork and they were on the ball. Within minutes I was in front of a computer answering all kinds of questions to see if I was eligible. Once I was done I had a nurse come in to get me. She tested my blood to check if I was anemic, which I wasn’t. Took my blood pressure and temp, which were both fine, and then we headed to my chair. I had no problems at all watching her stick me. The giving blood part took maybe 10 minutes at most. Then I had to wait around for another 10 minutes to make sure I wasn’t going to pass out or anything. Once those 10 minutes were up I grabbed some juice and cookies and went back upstairs to Gary.

I’m quite impressed because I have NO bruise either. It’s a little sore because the needle they used was HUGE. But no freaking bruise which is awesome.

So there is my good deed for the day, month, year, whatever! Hopefully my blood goes to save someone’s life.

It’s the Little Things

Posted by Sammy on Jul 7th, 2009 | 2 comments

Before we came up to DC for round #2 I had already told Gary that I just felt this overwhelming urge to do something with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I don’t know what yet, but something. Whether its to take part in fundraising activities or who knows what else, but just something. Lymphoma and just cancer in general is just NASTY. NO one should ever have to go through it and if we could just do something to get that much closer to a cure it would be just such a wonderful thing.

During this past week especially with the talks of bone marrow transplants and all I immediately knew that when the time comes I plan on asking what it takes to be a possible match. I have no idea if its blood type specific or not. I assume to see if I’d be a match I’d have to have a bone marrow biopsy and I’d hate to do that if my A- blood type would be rejected because he’s A+. But I just feel this overwhelming need to at least be tested. Can you imagine if I’m a match????

Then it got me thinking. I’ve always been reluctant to donate blood. I have no idea why because I’m not afraid of needles, anymore. I watch when I get pricked and I’ve watched Gary be pricked over and over too and it doesn’t even phase me. Today while walking by the NIH cafeteria they had a blood bank booth and they had a sign showing the different blood types and which types you can help out with your type and how many people in the US have YOUR type. Well I’m A- and I learned today that only 6% of people in the US have MY blood type. I had NO freaking idea it was THAT low. Now more than ever do I feel that overwhelming need to help. So tomorrow morning, sometime after I eat breakfast and after the doctors do their rounds I plan on heading down to the NIH blood bank and I plan on donating my A- blood. I’d like to make it a regular thing too, given that it goes well tomorrow.

So its the little things like this where I’m hoping by giving just a little bit of my blood I can help someone else in need. Shoot, these people here are helping to save my wonderful husband’s life, the least I can do is give them some of my blood in hopes that they can save someone else!