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Went to donate blood this afternoon, my ninth donation since moving to England three years ago. One more and I upgrade from a blue card to a bronze one. You see, dear friends, the National Blood Service has an "award scheme" based on how many times you have donated.
Of course, my rate of donation has slowed since moving across the pond, as the NHS will only take my blood once per sixteen weeks -- in the States, eight weeks is the norm. I have been giving blood since 1997 and I estimate that I have donated about five or six gallons in that time! That's about seven times the amount of blood that I actually have in my body right now! Not too shabby.
Today, I reached a personal milestone. I have been donating blood regularly for over twelve years. Today, for the first time, I actually looked at the needle. Indeed, I looked at it whilst it was in my arm. I have never so much as seen the thing that punctures me before, let alone see it inserted into my flesh. Usually, I ask the nurse to cover it up with a paper towel. I know that, in the grand scheme of things, this counts for nothing. Still, I am proud of myself for making this personal step forward.
Speaking of the nurse, today I had a very chatty nurse from the Philippines. He was also rather clever. Looking at my name, he asked if I was Arabic. I didn't both to correct him and say that I was Coptic. Close enough. He then surmised what my father's name was. I was duly impressed. Alas, I had to come clean when he asked me if I spoke Arabic. I do not... but apparently he does! When I was finished being drained, he made me a rather tasty strawberry milkshake to start replenishing my bodily fluid.
Of course, my rate of donation has slowed since moving across the pond, as the NHS will only take my blood once per sixteen weeks -- in the States, eight weeks is the norm. I have been giving blood since 1997 and I estimate that I have donated about five or six gallons in that time! That's about seven times the amount of blood that I actually have in my body right now! Not too shabby.
Today, I reached a personal milestone. I have been donating blood regularly for over twelve years. Today, for the first time, I actually looked at the needle. Indeed, I looked at it whilst it was in my arm. I have never so much as seen the thing that punctures me before, let alone see it inserted into my flesh. Usually, I ask the nurse to cover it up with a paper towel. I know that, in the grand scheme of things, this counts for nothing. Still, I am proud of myself for making this personal step forward.
Speaking of the nurse, today I had a very chatty nurse from the Philippines. He was also rather clever. Looking at my name, he asked if I was Arabic. I didn't both to correct him and say that I was Coptic. Close enough. He then surmised what my father's name was. I was duly impressed. Alas, I had to come clean when he asked me if I spoke Arabic. I do not... but apparently he does! When I was finished being drained, he made me a rather tasty strawberry milkshake to start replenishing my bodily fluid.
