One Pint At A Time: Confessions of a Serial Blood Donor

I remember the first time I donated blood.  I was taking pictures for the yearbook at my high school blood drive.  Then they asked me if I wanted to donate.  I am sure the Red Cross nurses were hungry for my young blood – plus I was a high school senior over 18 years old who didn’t need parental permission. 

I was hesitant. But I remember a sign there that said “Through These Doors Walk the Most Generous People in the World”.  That sounded really great to 18 year-old me (it still does), so I agreed to do it. It must have gone fine because I don’t now recall any further details.   

I’m not always as generous a person as I think I should be, so maybe that’s why I like the idea of not just giving money or time to help people, but enduring a needle stick and giving a part of my body to help a stranger.

I feel optimistic about a society where people are willing to make that sacrifice. I suppose that somewhere out there is probably a regular blood donor who is also a total jerk, but I haven’t met one yet.

I soon learned that I had O- blood.  The universal donor. Then the Red Cross really came after me:  They told me my blood could also go to immune deficient babies. Well, okay then, if I can save babies, take whatever you need!

There are close to 7 of us O- folks out of every 100 people in the US. It’s not the rarest blood type, that would be AB-, but it’s not very common either. But it seems unfair to me that universal donor O- types like me can only receive O- in return.  Sigh. Other people — always taking from us O- blood superstars.

In the reverse scenario, I suppose it must be nice to be AB+. You can receive anybody’s blood!

Donating has become one of my ways to give back to my community.  I feel like I have the gift of O- and I should use it. I suppose if I were really courageous, I’d donate a kidney, and I have thought about it, but I’m not there yet. However, I can donate blood. 

Does it hurt?  Well, as a friend once said (about a serious head wound), “It doesn’t tickle.” 

I’ve had shots or IVs put into me that I barely felt.  But whole blood donation needles are larger — a 16-gauge monster.  Apparently, the bigger gauge size protects the precious red blood cells.  I don’t advise watching this video featuring a cheerful nurse showing off her different blood donation needle sizes if needles make you queasy.   

So, yep, even with the most skilled phlebotomist, you’re going to feel the initial stick.  But I’d say that after the initial poke — maybe registering a brief 3 or 4 on the 1-10 pain scale — it quickly drops to 2 after a few seconds.  After another 30 seconds, once the blood is flowing, no more than 1.  

You know you have a needle in your arm and it’s sensitive but it doesn’t hurt.  The final needle withdrawal when they are done is another, milder sting, and that’s it. 

Then my arm feels tender right around the spot for an hour, but there’s no pain or lingering soreness.  I also get a fun, blood-colored red bandage that I can show off to people and feel like a hero. “Oh this? Yep, I just donated blood. No, I’m fine, thanks.”

The last time I donated, I asked some of my fellow donees why they do it. We were sitting at the snack table for our required 15 minute post-donation wait. Maria, a recent college grad, said, “It feels like the right thing to do.”

Connie, who is one of those long-time, veteran donors, offered a reason I hadn’t considered: “I’m kind of introverted and sometimes volunteering in groups is stressful. But giving blood, I can just sit there and relax.”

Connie had actually given platelets which is a two hour process rather than the 15 minute whole blood donor experience. She used the time to catch up on her TV shows.

I’ve been donating 3-4 times a year for at least 10 years. Besides all the LornaDoone cookies and Cheez-It crackers you can eat afterwards, donors get a free basic health screening — blood pressure, pulse, hemoglobin and oxygen levels — along with a bunch of keeping-your-blood-pure questions, especially about travel (been to any high-risk countries?) and sex (any recent new partners?)

These days, you can get more than just a good feeling when you donate. The Red Cross has started giving modest gift certificates to donors and sometimes T-shirts. Several years ago, the Washington Nationals had a blood drive and offered a behind the scenes stadium tour afterwards — I got to visit the clubhouse, dugout, and even step out on the field. Nice.

I help with blood drives at my local church and make sure to donate myself. Since the blood drive is always on Saturdays, I do my usual group bike ride in the morning while drinking a ton of water, then roll over to the church to donate and help out if necessary, still in my bike gear. After donating I ride home slowly. I don’t think the Red Cross would endorse a bike ride home, even an easy one, right after donating, but they haven’t tried to stop me yet!

Many people avert their eyes from their own blood flowing through the tube and into the collection bag. I don’t mind. I actually like to watch my deep red blood fill the bag.  It is life.