There aren't many parts of my body I feel inclined to brag about, but apparently I have very nice veins. No I'm not married to vampire. This week I donated blood.
I'm not new to it. This was my 45th donation. Every time they tell me what nice veins I have. It could go to my head.
My dad was a blood donor and took me when I turned 18. Unfortunately, he died not long after that, but I have continued to give blood, partly because it's a good thing to do, but also in his memory. So this time I took my teenage daughter for her first time.
Except they almost wouldn't let me give because my blood pressure was too low. I always have lowish blood pressure, which I think is good, but this time it was 111/40. It was a wonder I had a pulse. I felt fine, but they made me drink a couple of juice boxes and eat a granola bar, then checked it again. Amazingly up to a nice 120/60.
In the meantime my daughter had been taken in. They couldn't find a vein in her left arm, so had to move her and try the right, poor thing. And then, before I even got to donate, as they removed the needle from her arm, she got light-heated. They had to bring her juice and put cold cloths on her forehead and neck, anxious mom hovering beside her. I was the one with the low blood pressure but she's the one who felt faint.
Not how I wanted her first time to be, but she says she'll do it again. And so will I.
I'm not new to it. This was my 45th donation. Every time they tell me what nice veins I have. It could go to my head.
My dad was a blood donor and took me when I turned 18. Unfortunately, he died not long after that, but I have continued to give blood, partly because it's a good thing to do, but also in his memory. So this time I took my teenage daughter for her first time.
Except they almost wouldn't let me give because my blood pressure was too low. I always have lowish blood pressure, which I think is good, but this time it was 111/40. It was a wonder I had a pulse. I felt fine, but they made me drink a couple of juice boxes and eat a granola bar, then checked it again. Amazingly up to a nice 120/60.
In the meantime my daughter had been taken in. They couldn't find a vein in her left arm, so had to move her and try the right, poor thing. And then, before I even got to donate, as they removed the needle from her arm, she got light-heated. They had to bring her juice and put cold cloths on her forehead and neck, anxious mom hovering beside her. I was the one with the low blood pressure but she's the one who felt faint.
Not how I wanted her first time to be, but she says she'll do it again. And so will I.