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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.
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And I realized I do not know your surname! I only know your first name because I've heard Amy use it. I only think of you as Nomad!
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Saudi Arabia, as it turns out. Close guess, though!
And I realized I do not know your surname! I only know your first name because I've heard Amy use it. I only think of you as Nomad!
*grin* That's okay -- nothing wrong with that! Honestly, outside of work and interactions with my biological family, I think of myself more and more as Nomad!
Actually, Nomad has a surname, too. Acquired it by chance at Starwood last year. The story is really funny -- remind me and I shall tell you when next we meet at Brushwood next month! (You are going to be there, yes? *crosses fingers*)
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Very glad to hear that you will be making it to the Sooper-Sekrit October gathering this year!!
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Hee! I was right about the nurse having been in the Gulf, even if not Dubai! I hear learning Arabic is a bit more of a priority in Saudi than it is in the UAE.
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By the way, I keep managing to compliment you on your very pretty..... (*ahem*) icon! Quite nice, where did you shoot it?
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It's one of the ones I took in Westminster Abbey - one of my college friends is married to one of the head-honchos there and we got a private tour. Being allowed to take photos was a great privilege.
There are a fair few more on my Flickr page, but you need to be on my contact list there to see them.
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So..... what would it take to arrange a repeat visit? I can offer bribes of chocolate, massage, physics lectures... and more! ;-D
[*] Indeed, Westminster is the last of the "six great English cathedrals" on my list that I have to see.
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Even without the private tour though it is definitely a wonderful place to visit.
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Since my last donation, I have found out that the particular test which deferred me is no longer being used to to an unacceptable level of false positives. If I wished, I could petition to have the deferral expunged.
Of course, there are now other issues that they consider dispositive which prevent me from donating, despite independent testing verifying that those issues do not make my blood unsafe. A change on one controversial question in the questionnaire would allow me to donate again. If the change is made, I would donate. Until then, there's no reason for me to try.
I've been phlebotomized several times over the years, and I have no problem watching the puncture and draw. I believe I watched the puncture and draw at least once during my three donations.
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*nods* Understood. I realise that I am a total wuss on this front, and that watching the needle should be no big deal. But it is for me -- heck, the first time I gave blood without leaving teeth marks in my right hand was a milestone -- which is why I write it up as a personal triumph.
And, yes, I thoroughly agree with you on the inanity of the "other issues" of which you speak. Feh.
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They don't like it when I try to donate blood. "Hmm. After 1979, huh? You must have the AIDS!"
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When the Arabs came into Egypt, the Copts generally did not interbreed with them. Similar to the Turks, the Copts are Middle Eastern without being Arabic. Hence, today's Copts are descended from the ancient Egyptians. My father told me this once, and I didn't believe him; I had assumed it to be a Coptic myth. However, a friend of mine who has a doctorate in Egyptology (and is not Egyptian herself) confirmed this for me.
I was raised as a Coptic Christian... but obviously no longer follow that path. Still, ethnically I do consider myself Coptic. Just look at the photo in the icon. Separated by five thousand years, you can still see the strong resemblence between me and my ancestors in ancient Egypt! (Except for the fact that my eyes are on the front of my face... not the side!)
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Better now, but still always squeamish. Still, I know that my donation can save up to five lives... which is why I cannot let my own fear of needles stop me.
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The vampire nurses think I'm very odd for actually watching as the needle goes in.
I get to give blood even less frequently than you, on average: the National Blood Service bars women from giving blood for a year after they've had sex with a man who's EVER had sex with a man, so I've had a few significant gaps in my donations.
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(It's okay, though, as I like odd!)
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Congratulations!
I think, for me, any squick about medical stuff is vastly outweighed by fascination with the process. The only exception I can think of is that I didn't watch when I has a contraceptive implant inserted into my arm: that was a bit too sci-fi-horror even for me!
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I realise that, in the grand scheme of things, this "accomplishment" isn't much. Most people wouldn't even blink at looking at the needle in their arm. But, given my needle squick, it was a personal milestone... hence the need to commemorate it.
I admire your fortitude in matters medical, hon! ;-D
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Thanks for the phone call today... as always, lovely to hear your voice. :)
xoxoxo
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And, yes, it was quite lovely to chat with you last night, sweetie! Looking forward to talking again when you get back from FSG, too!!
xooxxxoox