There was a phone call asking for O+ blood needed at the hospital in
the nearest town, Bunj. So I volunteered. I have O+ blood and I'll
probably not be able to donate once I get back home to Texas. So my
friend Diana and I got on a motorbike to ride to Bunj. Don't worry Mom,
we wore helmets. Just had to navigate through the obstacle course of
pigs and goats and donkey carts and children.
We arrived safely to the hospital. Proceeded to the laboratory.
First they did a quick blood draw to confirm my blood type and checked
for HIV and Hepatitis. Next I laid down on a table and Solomon placed a
16 gauge (ouch!) needle in my arm. My "stress ball" was a urine dip stick
container. The bag was placed on a chair lower than the table I was
laying on. The blood came out rather quickly. I donated 1 pint.
Afterwards I didn't get a sticker, a t-shirt, or even a pint of Blue
Bell Ice Cream for my donation. I did drink a half liter of Gatorade
(that I brought with me from my tukul) and dried cranberries (also
brought from home). Solomon insisted I lay down on the table for a few
minutes after the donation was completed. Then I was able to move to the
chairs in the waiting area for another 15 minutes or so.
Still feeling fine, We hopped back on the motorbike. Diana and I
stopped in the local market- she got herself a cold Coke and I sat in a tea
shop with a Carcadeih (Hibiscus) tea. Two Mabaan friends, James & Jeremiah stopped by to greet us. Once finished with our beverages we
paid and the kind lady running the Tea Shop, Lydia, and she gave me a nice tea
glass to keep. At first Diana and I were confused. But luckily another shop
owner nearby spoke a little English to help us. Lydia wanted me to have this
tea glass as a gift. I smiled, we shook hands, and I said "shukran"
which means thank you in Arabic.
So that's my first experience donating blood! It's kinda cool to
think that you are able to help another person. The patient who received
my blood I know nothing about. Only they were in the operating room at
the time and needed my blood. There is no refrigeration here to store
and keep blood on hand for emergencies.
