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What better gift in honor of Christmas or Hanukkah could there be?
I started donating in order to "pay it forward" when my son received many transfusions of blood and platelets during chemo for his leukemia. Thanks significantly to the many donors who it made it possible, he is now a 36 year old father.
Are you a blood donor? If so, would you share your experience and pint total, if you know it? I have not kept up with mine, unfortunately.
If you never have donated, it's easy, virtually painless, and takes about an hour for the standard donation. Platelets and some specialized donations take a little longer.
It cost me nothing, and I got a cool T-shirt, a Christmas ornament, and free cookies and juice.
What better gift in honor of Christmas or Hanukkah could there be?
I started donating in order to "pay it forward" when my son received many transfusions of blood and platelets during chemo for his leukemia. Thanks significantly to the many donors who it made it possible, he is now a 36 year old father.
Are you a blood donor? If so, would you share your experience and pint total, if you know it? I have not kept up with mine, unfortunately.
If you never have donated, it's easy, virtually painless, and takes about an hour for the standard donation. Platelets and some specialized donations take a little longer.
It cost me nothing, and I got a cool T-shirt, a Christmas ornament, and free cookies and juice.
I have done it once successfully, but last time I went they told me I couldn't donate because I had been to Mexico and, apparently, you cannot donate within 2 years of having been there. Seems weird to me, but whatever, I'm sure there's a good reason for that restriction.
I'll just have to try again in about 18 months, assuming I don't end up going somewhere else that disqualifies me.
My mom has donated blood a bunch of times... I remember when I was a kid she got an "I gave a gallon" sticker, so I guess wherever she had been donating kept track of the amounts for her for awhile. It was the cutest sticker... I made a goal to get one myself someday (if they even still do that).
Wher you have traveled in Mexico makes a difference, because the concern is for malaria. Here is the CDC map showing the areas in Mexico that are at risk for the disease:
The deferment from donation is for 12 months, unless you actually lived there. Then it's three years, and it is also three years after actual treatment for malaria.
Wher you have traveled in Mexico makes a difference, because the concern is for malaria. Here is the CDC map showing the areas in Mexico that are at risk for the disease:
The deferment from donation is for 12 months, unless you actually lived there. Then it's three years, and it is also three years after actual treatment for malaria.
Thanks for the link! I actually went to the Red Cross website as soon as I posted and looked at their map. Yeah, I don't know why I was thinking 2 years; we were only there for 6 days, so it's 12 months from then. So, I'll be good to go again in April.
Thanks for the link! I actually went to the Red Cross website as soon as I posted and looked at their map. Yeah, I don't know why I was thinking 2 years; we were only there for 6 days, so it's 12 months from then. So, I'll be good to go again in April.
Unfortunately I don't "qualify" to donate (blood clotting factor, among other things) but I have tried a few times in my life. I wish the thought counted when it came to donating blood - but, recipients won't heal as a result of good wishes.
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Yeah, I don't know why I was thinking 2 years; we were only there for 6 days, so it's 12 months from then. So, I'll be good to go again in April.
