I will never forget the day that the NICU nurse said, "we gave Lex a blood transfusion." She said it so nonchalantly and I, on the other side of the phone, felt like my heart had stopped when I heard those words. Little did I know that my boys would need eight more blood transfusions before we left the NICU.
I can't tell you if the blood transfusions eventually became less scary or if we just had bigger fears taking my energy, but each transfusion felt less terrifying. Regardless, I have wanted to donate my blood at least nine times to give back to those who helped give my boys' life.
Needles have never been my friend ever since I woke up after passing out in a doctor's office after a needle prick. I pass out or get close to it when I have to get blood drawn so the thought of donating a pint has always been daunting.
Recently, I read a Georgia O'Keeffe quote that said, "I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do."
While I can honestly say that I don't want to donate blood, my heart would say that I need to. Seven years, almost to the day that the twins were born, I was able to successfully donate 451 mLs of blood right outside the hospital that I gave birth. My heart would also say, one down, and eight to go.
I donated through Bloodworks Northwest and had a great experience. To schedule your own blood donation, visit Bloodworks Northwest.
1 comment
Good for you for conquering your fear of needles. So many people need blood transfusions in this country. Wish I could still give but can’t medically. I was proud of my highschool son who gave to a baby to a baby who needed surgery. Please give if you can.