Christmas time Canadian Blood Services is always in need of extra blood donations. This year my schedule worked out such that I donated yesterday. Lots of festive decorations up this time of year.
Donation 82 all done. Still aiming for my 100th donation. Approximately another three years for that though.
Still, I was glad to have gotten out for a ride and to get some fresh air and exercise.
Getting to the donation was pretty easy, as was making the donation. Afterwards, the stopping of the bleeding was the hard part. This had never happened to me before, but my arm did not want to stop. They iced me up, bandaged me up, and taped me down. Eventually I had stopped enough to let me head over to the refreshments.
Drink boxes? Really? What about the environment? Please let’s get back to the containers of juice.
If I keep to my schedule, I could hit 50 donations this year. 47 in June, 48 in August, 49 in October, and 50 in December.
When I got home Sprout was asking me questions about my bandages. I took the opportunity to tell him about what I do, and why I do it.
Anyway, the donation was fine, and the cookies and juice tasty. Unfortunately they have moved to individual sized juice boxes. What a terrible waste to see all of the leftover rubbish. Sure they can be recycled, but that is a lot of extra processing to do.
By the way, that was donation 45.
Donation 44 this time. Cookies and juice were plentiful like always. Now I’m all bandaged up and ready to go out for beer tonight. Woot.
Tonight was donation number 43. I can’t wait to hit number 50! 7 donations, 56 days between them, means I still have a year and a bit before I hit that mark.
There Ed Bain was there donating too. Nice to see some local celebs being involved in a cause like this.
Smooth process, but for some reason my arm didn’t want to stop donating. After the bag was full, I held the gauze on my arm for the 5 minutes, but even then the hole was still bleeding a little.
Mmm, cookies. I haven’t bought Oreo’s in a very long time, but every time I donate I make sure to eat a couple.
I breezed through the questions, then it was on to see the nurse. Due to my travels to New Zealand, there is now a question that I have to answer yes too. This slows down one stage of the process a little.
From the nurse I walked straight to the donation bed without any waits at all. So far pretty speedy.
I still hate when they put the needle in, and can never watch them while they do it. Once the bag starts filling though, the rest of the time flies by.
Over cookies and juice I got to talk to my co-worker. Made for a more pleasant experience. Since we both booked for next time, I might see him again in October.
I had brought a magazine to read while eating my cake and cookies, but ended up talking with another gentleman about mountain bikes, and mountain biking.
This was donation 41 for me.
At the refreshment stand there was a new change. It looks like Oasis Health Break Juices are donating their products. Mmmmm. I even got a tetra pak to take home with me.
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