When I was younger I gave blood regularly. After the first blood drive I participated in at school I learned that I was o-, a much needed blood type. Once I learned this I felt like it was my duty.
Like most kids, my social life became more important and I didn't donate as often. It got down to about once a year when my mom ended up in the hospital and needed five blood transfusions.
After that I was back to the Heartland Blood Center in Joliet and every blood drive I could get an appointment at. But by this time I was in college and donating plasma became more appealing because they paid you. But at least I was still helping.
Again the donating slowed in college due to priority changes and picked up a little in the last three years I've been in the working world. But not as much as it should.
So I went back to my favorite Heartland place yesterday and immediately felt better. After all, it doesn't hurt me any, other than the needle prick in the arm. But that doesn't mean much when you realize one unit of your blood can save up to three lives.
But I was a little disappointed when I arrived last night. The place was empty. Mind you I had to schedule my appointment during the last hour the center was open, but usually the place is packed. I brought in three newspapers because normally I have to wait at least a half an hour before they are ready for me.
Don't get me wrong it was nice to be in and out of there in 30 minutes, but all I could think about was that I should have dragged a co-worker with me. Judging by the fact that Heartland had been calling me weekly to make an appointment, and due to the empty center, I would guess this means they are in need of blood.
Literally it only took me 10 minutes to pump out 440 drips to feel a unit of blood. It was 5 minutes before that to answer the health questions and test my iron level. And then I sat there and read the paper for ten minutes while eating a snack to raise my blood sugar.
From what my lovely nurse Laurie told me my blood was a little slow. Her fastest patient took 4 minutes. Which means that any one of you could be out of there even faster than I was. The longest you can be there giving is 20 minutes because after 20 minutes the blood begins to clot in the bag and cannot be used.
So I have promised myself that I will again donate regularly and I will be bringing a friend next time. Leave me a comment if you'd like to join me or you can attend your own blood drive at one of these locations below.
July 13 and Sept. 7at Wal-Mart in Morris.
July 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Brown Bag lunch on the Grundy County Courthouse Lawn. This one is sponsored by Grundy Bank.
Mallory Medved is an assistant managing editor of weekly publications for
the Sun-Times News Group. She helps cover the Lincoln-Way area and towns
southwest of Joliet. Being naturally nosy has led her to a career in
journalism and fulfilled her dream of getting paid to read. Being a new
homeowner and a future bride, she's also perpetually broke, but enjoys
hearing about other people in the same situation. She lives in Plainfield
but is a native of New Lenox.
Christina Chapman is a Will County resident who desperately wants to live in Grundy County. But since she lost that battle with her boyfriend when they bought a house, she makes due covering Grundy County news for The Herald News in Joliet. When not covering municipal meetings, school events and finding the truth behind the latest coffee talk, she is trying to balance life as a young home owner who is fighting the stereotype that she is living in sin because she is not yet married. She hopes to share with you her perspective on life and the news in hopes that you’ll share yours.
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