A Whiter Shade of Pale

I'm feeling a little weak. I'm in line to donate blood. I've never done this before. A woman here just passed out. I got woozy watching this. Honestly, it's a little hard to type. Mr. Mendez just turned and asked me if I was writing my Last Will and Testament. (And the nervous laughter begins.)

And that's all I could type while I was there. Here's what happened.
To every person there I had to talk to, I said, "I'm doing this for Team in Training. This is my first time donating blood. I'm squeamish. I once passed out during a blood test." I probably told more people than really needed to hear it.

As they were asking their routine questions about medications, someone passed in front of me carrying a bag of blood. Oh, geez. I started feeling a little light-headed.

Then the worker said, "Okay, let me just get your bags." THEY LABEL THE BAGS THAT'LL HOLD YOUR BLOOD IN FRONT OF YOU! What kind of sick joke is that? I had to look away.

I was trying to think positive. This is nothing but a blood donation. People go through a lot scarier things than this.

So I'm sitting down. The needle's in. The tech jokes he didn't feel a thing and reminds me to squeeze my fist every three seconds. Not all that reached me. I just kept squeezing my fist constantly and eventually I realized I wasn't waiting three seconds. A little while later, I was handed a stress ball.

I couldn't look at my right arm. I don't remember when, but at one point, they pointed a surprisingly powerful fan at my face.

Eventually, it was over. I was a little light-headed and my feet were falling asleep, but none worse for the wear. I got to choose the color of the bandage. I knew I wouldn't take that bandage off for a while. I just keep imagining blood gushing out if I remove it.

I got some water and a bag of chips and sat down. Someone suggested I drink some coke, since it was my first blood donation. I didn't have any change.

And that's it. A happily boring ending. Team in Training gives me $25 credit for donating blood. I was thinking I could avoid it, since I was so close to reaching my goal. But then I felt that was cheating. It's an easy way I can help and that's what I'm trying to do.

This is the part where I ask for your help. Please donate to LLS.

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