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The Blood-letting

2/24/2014

11 Comments

 
The only gift is a portion of thyself.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Last week I climbed into a big red bus for my first-ever (voluntary) blood-letting. The mobile lab had been showing up like a stalker in the parking lots of places I frequented, and as repelled as I am by needles, I felt myself being wooed to part with some of my precious red stuff. When I read an email announcing it would be on the campus where I work, I made an appointment. 

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A guy who looked to be high school-age smilingly greeted me as I entered. I immediately announced this was my first time giving blood and that I was somewhat needle-phobic. He grinned like I'd made a joke, invited me to sit, and handed me paperwork that asked some embarrassingly personal questions. After I apparently passed the paper and pen test, Grinning Guy announced he was going to pull blood from my finger to ensure it had sufficient iron. Before I could mentally compute I would be stuck with a needle before the main event, he'd done the deed. "Most people feel this is the worst part," he assured me while staunching the blood. Most people would be wrong.

He next asked which arm I'd like impaled (probably not his exact wording.) We agreed my left looked good, so I dutifully hoisted myself onto a recliner built into the wall. A nervous young woman handed me a soft ball and requested I squeeze it while she checked my vein. She poked the inside of my arm for a moment or two, then asked me if she could look at the other arm. Uh-oh. We repeated the squeeze/poke procedure on my right side, then switched back to my left arm. When she went to the front of the bus for a whispered consult with Grinning Guy and another (very!) young woman, the truth became obvious. Nervous Nell was a rookie, and I was her training dummy.

GG accompanied NN back to my arm, poked at my vein area, and told her it was fine. I accepted a bottled water while NN made another trek to the front of the bus. A microwave beeped and its door slammed shut. She returned and exchanged the ball in my hand for a warm plastic sack. "Your hand is cold," she told me. "Squeeze this." I turned my face toward the bus wall and started yoga breathing while she clumsily struggled to tape something to my arm. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Fine," I lied. I opened a book I'd brought and tried to focus on the words while she fumbled, all the while narrating what she was doing. I felt pressure followed by an unpleasant sensation in my arm, but nothing I would label as pain.  

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Suddenly NN announced it was over. I'd read exactly one short chapter in my book (which I'd have to reread when I got home, of course.) I watched as she wrapped burgundy gauze around my arm, and topped it off with a yellow gauze bow. A badge of honor. I gathered my things, wished the blood-letters a good day, and exited.

As I got into my car, I couldn't help feel that although the beauty of the day seemed exactly as it had 45 minutes earlier, something had shifted. I'd experienced a rite of passage of sorts. I'd confronted a fear, and done a very "adult" thing that would hopefully benefit someone else. Would I do it again? Probably, but I'm in no rush.

In the meanwhile, I did what people do to celebrate a rite of passage. I took pictures.

11 Comments
AnnieB
2/25/2014 09:16:14 am

I'll tell you what shifted. You joined the ranks of the courageous. Congratulations -- you are now Courageous Write-Minded Woman !!

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Natine
2/25/2014 10:58:42 am

Awwwwww, thanks, Annie B! I think CWMW does have some panache! Hahahahahaha...

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Jill link
2/25/2014 11:18:38 am

Way to go, Natine! You did a great thing and you got a blog post too! Score!

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Natine
2/25/2014 02:32:19 pm

No sacrifice too big for a blog post, Jill...hahahahahahahahaha :)

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cmk link
2/25/2014 04:36:22 pm

I only gave blood one time and that was for myself before an operation. I didn't need it, so they destroyed it after the surgery. I always felt that was just wrong to have to give up so much for nothing. ;)

I don't do needles well, but even if I did, I don't know if I could give blood as I'm a bit anemic and on iron pills always. MY saving grace.

The Husband used to give blood regularly--health problems have kept him away from that for some time. Anyway, the rookies are ALWAYS the ones who do the blood donations--a great place for them to practice. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for giving blood, now is it?

Anyway, good for you! I admire anyone who can actually go through with donating.

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Natine
2/26/2014 08:29:51 am

I agree that it seems rookies always get that kind of detail, CMK. I guess they need to practice on someone, but I would prefer it not be me! I see that a lot because the college is next door to the hospital. A lot of nurses-in-training in the area...It also is a bit creepy that doctors and nurses are all young enough to be my kids - or grandkids - these days. And if I do come across one in my age group, I still think they're not old enough to be poking around in me! :)

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cmk link
2/27/2014 07:05:38 am

Ahhh...the age of the professionals we are now asked to trust our bodies to. THAT is a whole other discussion, isn't it? :D

Dee Dee Chumley link
2/26/2014 01:48:58 am

Good for you, Natine! You "felt the fear and did it anyway." But I have to say I'm a little disappointed in your method of celebrating. Any rite-of-passage celebration at my house is definitely going to involve cake.

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Natine
2/26/2014 08:31:57 am

You will be happy to know, Dee Dee, that I did imdulge in cake. And a variety of other processed foods and liquid antioxidants. I kind of figured since I'd been bled, I'd need to replace all that stuff that was siphoned out! Hahahahaha...

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Shel Harrington link
2/26/2014 04:50:30 pm

You got a bow??? All I got was a close-up view of some rolled-up Spanx in the church parking lot! I am definitely insisting on a gauze bow next time. (Don't tell S - he'd probably refuse to accompany me for fear of what would happen if I don't get my bow.)

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Natine
2/26/2014 11:13:17 pm

I think it was a Spanx bow, Shel. And don't you know that you were on my mind during the whole event! ;)

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