Donating Blood.

I think it was 14 April 2011, where I still in highschool.

A white van entered our school and that's when I had my first experience in donating blood.

So I went with my friends to donate our blood because I was 18 and it means that I'm allowed to donate my blood.  

We were really curious about donating blood because of course we haven't experienced it before (except for those who had their blood taken for the test.  I used to have my blood taken to, but it was when I still 5 maybe?).

First we have to fill a form about ourselves whether we have allergies, or any diseases that will prevent us from donating blood because it will be dangerous for the receiver later.

After filling the form, I went to check my weight, blood-pressure, and my blood type.

The officer cleaned the tip of my ring finger and put something like pen then "click", I felt a sting then I saw my finger bleeding quite much.

The officer took it carefully to check the hemoglobin and my blood type.

I was sure that my blood type is B because my mother said that.  And I love checking the characteristic of "B" type people and I thought.. YES, I'm a blood B.

But the officer says that I'm an O-type, it means that I get the same as my mom who says that I'm a B-type.

(Mom, I had lived my 18 years thinking that I'm a B-type!  Feels like an eagle who lives with the chicken and doesn't know that it can fly high because it's eagle!  Not a chicken!  I'm an O-type!  Not a B-type!  LOL!  I'm exaggerating it. ;))

After knowing my blood type, and qualified to donate blood, they gave me a...what I should call it?  Blood bags?  It's written an O-type with positive rhesus.  I wait for my turn to donate blood because it was quite crowded.  After some time, I became more and more nervous.  What if it hurts like when we get an injection?

Although worrying about the pain, my turn had come and I slowly walk to the chair.

Another officer greeted me, and asking me whether I'm afraid of needles or not.

"No.", I said.

She then tried to find my vein, but after some time, she still couldn't find it even she tried on my other hand and it's still hard to find.

She finally able to see a little and decided to clean the area where she would jab the needle.

Fortunate me, she's a skillful one.  One of my friend whined because the officer who took his blood is still a newbie.  She inserted the needle a little bit slow and her hands were shaky, making it painful for my friend.

The needle inserted into my vein and the blood start pouring out.  I'm amazed to see the crimson red blood, my own blood flowing out from my body to the blood-bag near the chair on a digital scale.

Well, it hurts earlier, but it doesn't hurt at all when the blood is flowing out (except you keep moving your arm so the needle won't stay still).

I finished a little bit late because the officer said that my blood is hard to come out, even she used the tool to measure blood pressure a few times (which left few red marks on my upper hand after it) and asking me to pump it by making my hand into a fist then open it and do it again a few times.

Finally the blood bag was full and she cut it before letting another cc of my blood to use it as a sample.

I don't feel anything wrong and happily receive the delicious food provided by the school and the PMI.

That day I felt really happy, don't know why but I felt really happy because I feel like I'm able to give something, to help someone in need.

It's been more than a year now as a student of PCU and there were about 4 times I missed to donate my blood again.  Finally I got the chance on 18 September 2012 (It's Amber Josephine Liu's birthday!  YAY!).

After I persuade one of my friends, she finally agreed to try donating blood (which I felt guilty later because she felt sick and look pale after donating blood.  I'm sorry Aba!)

We gone the usual procedure and finally I sit on that special chair again, waiting to get my blood taken.  The officer also had hard times finding my vein (again).  But she insisted to take it from my right hand.  And this time I was unfortunate.  The officer first jab the needle and let some blood to come out before fully insert it in my vein.  It was......PAINFUL!  But I kept my poker face and feeling happy to see my crimson red blood again.  It's beautiful.  Wait... Am I a psycho because I love to see the blood's color?

There were about eight chairs and it's all full of people who's donating their blood.

I still feel okay until I notice the person on my front-right side suddenly call another officer and the officer lie her down in another chair (that looked like emergency bed).

I was staring at her lying down until I heard another noise on my left side, only to see my friend is pale.  REALLY PALE, and she's in lying down position too.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, but no response.

"Do you feel dizzy?" The officer who take care of me suddenly ask.

"No..", I said because I feel nothing.

And yes, from the very beginning when the blood start coming out, I pumping it so it won't take long like the past.

After like 10 seconds I answered, I started to feel my vision getting darker.

I thought it's because the light, or something like that.  
I tried to make myself focus, but I felt like my head start feeling empty.

"Uh...", I started to panic because every time I blink it keeps getting darker and I felt sleepy, "I think I feel dizzy.  Is it what they call dizzy?" 

I was confused because I never fainted or something like that.  I'm healthy and strong!(and fcourse, I'm proud of it! :))) 

The officer did something, making the chair lower so I can get in lying position with my feet higher than my head (slightly higher, not like the others).

I want to close my eyes.

"Don't close your eyes, breathe in and out slowly and deeply.", she says calmly.

What the, I'm feeling like dying and she still calm?

I tried to breathe deeply and slowly, making sure that I took as much oxygen as I could because having your sight getting darker is something unpleasant.  My body feels weak and I feel like dying, literally.

Suddenly I remembered about Twilight movie, I'm not a fan of it, but maybe now I know how it feels when the blood is sucked too much (although it won't be the same).

After two or three minutes my vision started to get clearer and finally it's gone, I can feel all my body is sweating although it's not hot.  Then a male officer approach me, with a glass of warm sweet tea with a straw and asked me to drink it.  

Of course I gladly drank it because I love drinking tea.

The blood bag is full, but they asked me to stay lying down for a while although I said that it's gone.

After lying down for another 3 minutes, finally the female officer allowed me to sit and I have to sit for another 3 minutes before she allowed me to stand up and leave the place.

It was something thrilling, and makes me thinking that we're mortal and very weak.

I thought I can do anything.  I mean I can endure the pain, the heartache, when I'm sick I tend to stay quiet and try to control my mind that I'm okay so I will get well soon.

When I sprain my ankle, I will try to fix it by myself (and it works).

But I felt so helpless, so weak when I was donating blood.

I was nearly scream because I don't feel good and I'm afraid.  It's not like I'm afraid of darkness, but it feels different..  Like you're going to leave your body and going somewhere.

It's fun!  And I will make sure I will take care of my health better so I will be able to donate again next time (three months to go T_T).

It means that I should eat regularly, eat healthy food, and get enough sleep (and sleep regularly too) which is hard to do because I'm a nocturnal :P

It's late, I have just finished my first Social Statistics assignment and I'm too lazy going to bed because it's BIHI tomorrow.  I feel helpless...