True blood
Donated blood for the first time today. It went well: first they asked me extensively about my health, and then they checked my blood pressure/iron levels before giving me the OK. Once I was on the gurney, I tried not to look at the needle and bag apparatus. I’m not naturally squeamish when it comes to those things, but I decided to play it safe in case my mind or body tried to revolt. A pint is quite a lot, I’ve learned. I lay there for about 15 minutes giving blood. The room was freezing, so I don’t know if both the cool temperature and the blood withdrawal worked together to numb all feeling in my right hand. Then I laid down for 10 minutes to make sure I wasn’t woozy or dizzy. I felt slightly light-headed, but nothing a pack of oatmeal cookies and apple juice couldn’t fix.
While I was there, I thought a lot about my Dad. As in his case, you never know when you’re going to need blood, so I'm glad to help someone out.