Giving blood...

Okay it wasn't just giving blood, they hooked me up to this machine that drew my blood, spun out the plasma and red blood cells and stuck the plasma back in. 2 pints worth. I had no idea about this thing.

I signed up to give blood a couple of weeks ago at a service fair here on campus. You know, do the nice thing, get involved with the students outside of the library. All that stuff. Anyhow, Tuesday was my day. I had breakfast, but didn't eat lunch. I forgot all about giving blood and eating before hand (last time I gave blood was 2 years ago). Anyhow, the nurse person comes up to me and asks if I'd be willing to donate the red blood cells, rather than just blood, since they are low on that. I had to be a male, over 150 lbs, and over 5'1" (for those of you wanting to make a joke, save it till the end).

So why not, I'm game. But as soon as I said it, my stomach started to turn. I haven't eaten, so I grabbed two cookies and started to eat. After all the questions and stuff. I love the one about if I've every had a blood transfusion in the presense of someone who lived in the UK and sold their monkey for sex. Who answers yes to these questions?

They hook me up, and all is going fine. I'm drinking some juice because they've told me it'll take 35-40 minutes, so I'm thinking about not eating. I've got a high iron count so the machine is already grabbing plasma (which looks pretty werid). I'm doing fine until one nurse walks by and says that I look a little pale. "I don't feel pale," I said. Then I proceeded to look down at the needle and back up. "Okay, I'm a feeling pale."

Next thing I know I'm riding on a flying shopping cart through the city at night.

Then my eyes open and I'm staring up at strange, blurry (they took my classes off) faces and bright lights. I've got no idea where the hell I am, but damn I'm feeling pretty rested. I'm not at home... where was I... crap! I passed out.

There are students on both sides of me, who I know. I turned to one and said, "hey you always look good when your next to the guy that passes out." The Red Cross ladies said I was out for about a minute. They had taken the needle out, undone my tie, and cold rags all over my face. Later that night I saw another student who was next to me. He said "Man you were out. They kept trying to wake you up, but nothing."

Oh well, it gave everyone something to talk about. But hey, they did get a pint at least.

passing out pauly