Overcoming fear

[rayvyn2k]

I did that yesterday by giving blood for the first time ever.

I have always hated needles like most folks. In life, if you have a baby, get sick, have dental work done...you have to endure the stick. But I could never understand why someone would voluntarily get stuck...the thought made me shudder more than once and I swore I'd never give blood.

Then I watched this week's episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The Bell Family has a daughter with a condition called Diamond Blackfan Anemia. Diamond Blackfan Anemia (“DBA”) is a rare blood disorder, characterized by a failure of the bone marrow (the center of the bone where blood cells are made) to produce red blood cells. This failure causes DBA patients to become severely anemic.

Anyway, the little girl (I can't remember her name and the website doesn't have it) is an advocate for the Red Cross, and has helped raise awareness about donating blood. So, I watched the show and enjoyed it very much as I usually do.

Monday SF had the Bloodmobile there. My hubby always gives blood because his is O Negative (Premium Unleaded as he calls it) which anyone can receive. So, at around 2 in the afternoon, I passed by his desk and noticed he was not there. I went back to my desk and then just decided I would get up and go.

And I did.

I was VERY nervous. But they were all very gentle and really great cheerleaders. My hubby about fell off the table when he saw me...hee.

So, pretty soon, I'll get my very own blood donor card. And I'll finally know what my blood type is. And I won't have any excuses not to give again.

I'm so proud of myself!

Comments

[starbb.livejournal.com]

Way to go!! That is super awesome! I'm proud of you, too. :)

[islandsmoke.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I started donating when I was 18, and it was a lot different. It's a breeze, now, by comparison. So why don't I go anymore? Hmmmm. Haven't been for a couple of years, even though I'm somewhere around the six gallon mark. You may have inspired me to go again. It really is an important thing to do; clean donors are getting harder and harder to find, I guess, though they have better screening and cleaning techniques now.

But I hear you on the needle phobia! I'm almost as bad. It used to be pure torture to go. And you know? I can't remember what first got me there.

Keep up the very good work!

[raasalhayya.livejournal.com]

I am proud of you too! I have given blood once, when there was a blood drive in my office complex. I need to keep an eye out for another one.

[(Anonymous)]

Congratulations! I am very proud of you too!!! Keep up the good work! Luv, Beth