I Did It!!

I finally bit the bullet and decided to register to donate blood!  I have always wanted to do it as I see the mobile Blood Bank comes to the YMCA around the corner from my place every month.  When I saw it was going to be at the Y today I thought Id finally do something about it and register.  What better time to donate as the Red Cross are looking for plenty of donors for the bushfire victims.  I filled out the online form and now I just have to wait for them to call me back to make an appointment.

Hopefully I can do it when I can leave the kids with Rob or my mum as I cant have them running around while Im there.  Im happy that Ive taken the step to do this, not just for the bushfire victims but for anybody.  I remember what made me want to donate blood in the first place.  It was back in 2006 when I was told that Paige may need open heart surgery for her VSD.  I did some research on how the heart/lung machine functions and that donor blood is used.  Thats what made me want to donate blood in the first place, but I dont know why I never did back then.  Im sure I dreamed up some excuse, I cant really remember, (having children has turned my brain permenentaly to mush).

Anyhoo, so here we are now, Ive taken that step towards becoming a blood donor.  There is nothing preventing me from donating blood.  I read the FAQ on the website and it does mention something about antidepressants but I dont think it will hinder my donating blood.  Im actually quite surprised that I signed up cos I always flinch when I have a blood test.  That initial sting of the needle going into my vein makes me jump.  The vein in my left arm is nice and big and I always tell the pathology people to take the blood from there. 

When I think of donating blood I always think of The Simpsons episode where Bart runs away from home on Thanksgiving Day and donates blood in order to get $12.  He lies and says he is over 18, so he donates his blood, then you see him staggering out of the blood clinic saying "Twelve dollars and a free cookie, what a country." Before he faints of dizziness.  His dog, Santa's Little Helper eats his cookie. Lets just hope I dont get too woozie like Bart!