Give Blood goes the slogan. And so I did on Wednesday for the first time in about six years. Shameful that it took me so long really since I have been on this contract and in a stable location for over a year.
I always have been an erratic donor; it has taken me 30 years to get into the mid-teens. I am not sure exactly how many since the little paper tokens fell out of my donor card years ago and it is all computerised now anyway so I have become a man without a past.
I do remember my first donation back in 1975 for two reasons:
• Firstly, I stood up too quickly and nearly fainted. It was then I decided that 9¼ stone (59 kilo) was too light and spend the following period trying to eat more pasta and put a few pounds on.
• Secondly, the NBS wrote to me saying "Your blood group is of a type not often met with." Made me feel like Tony Hancock in The Blood Donor. Gone now, that card, it said I was negative donor but positive recipient (or was it the other way round). No matter, if it is an emergency they stuff you full of Type O and other times they test you first.
If you are able to give blood please do. For most of us it is the only chance we have to genuinely save lives.
Well done you Mark. Far too few adults donate. You have to make the time. Whatever your blood group, I'm sure they will take it. They will send you an invite to the next session in about 4 months time on which is your pints total. Keep up the good work. Let's just say my card is gold!
ReplyDeleteIan