49: Donate Blood

A mother's tears cannot save her child, my blood can...

My Dad is a regular blood donator, making over 150 donations in 50 years. Recently, the nurse told him to switch arms because she couldn’t find the veins due to the excessive scar tissue. I have never been afraid of needles but also never got around to donating blood. This was due to laziness more than anything else.

"I was always proud of my Dad when he came home with a bandage around his arm and a lollypop in his mouth. It was time for me to do the same."

Before booking my appointment I asked Dad why he donates so often, essentially any chance he can get. He told me that before I was born my Mum needed litres and litres of donated blood for a blood transfusion, and since then, he knew he was doing the right thing.

Booking the session was easy, just put in a few contact details and book in a time. At the blood donation clinic there were free chocolates and shapes, which I justified eating excessively because it was “to replenish my blood sugar”. The actual donation lasted longer than I expected. Unlike getting a blood sample from the doctors, they pump blood out of you for about 7-10 minutes. It was weird to see a 1/2-litre bag of my blood next to me, separated from my body. But there it was, ready to help the next person in need.

Update: A few weeks after the donation I got a message from the Blood Service team that read “Hi Jason, your blood donation is already at work! Your A+ blood has gone to save lives at the Epworth Hospital today”. Seeing this message made me smile and when the time comes I will be donating again.

If you live in Australia and would like to donate you can book an appointment at https://www.donateblood.com.au/.