You’re somebody’s type

Mummy you will be coming today for the Blood Donation camp organized by Regional Cancer Center (RCC)at school right ? Esther asked me again before leaving for school. I promised her that I will be in school by 10 am. I saw her playing out during the short break at 10 am at school , waved at her , moved on and enquired where was the camp happening and proceeded there. Did not meet Esther after that. At 3 pm when she reached home her first question was “Did you donate blood?” and then rapid fire questions “Did it pain? How long did it take? How did they take blood?, why have the put that small bandage ?, Nausheen was telling that we can give blood only after turning 18 years is that true ? ..”

First time I volunteered to donate blood was when I was 18 - 19 years old doing my graduation and in college they announced that one of the student’s dad or mom undergoing a surgery needed B+ve blood. I remember one more girl along with me went to the hospital. The moment the nurse saw that we had come to donate blood, she said we wont take girls blood – they usually don’t have blood count and then it is risky . I don’t remember she even checking for our blood count. Disappointed I came back to college, and  later we got to know that few boys from Christ college had gone to donate blood. So it was one of the things to do in my To Do List since then.

So the next opportunity I got was when I was 21 and there happened to be one Blood donation camp in our office, being skeptical of being rejected again , I thought what the heck will see what will happen. Surprisingly I had the Blood count and right weight and blood pressure and that was the first time I donated blood. And since then I have given blood quite a few times and I try to convince people that its absolutely fine to donate blood (including my husband who finally donated first time couple of years back) I also realized that how important it is for the women in the family to understand the whole process of blood donation , that it does not harm the donor anyway and how it saves lives – saying this as I have seen one mother being too frantic about her son going to donate blood. Same mother did not mind getting blood from other person when blood was required for her. And I am sure this emotion is common.

Now when my daughter was asking so many questions –  I started with her last question about the age – Yes you have to be 18 years old to donate blood (I could see her disappointment :)), Next time when there is blood donation camp in your school, ask if you can do volunteering work for helping around with bandages and snacks then you can see how blood is taken. There is no pain in the process only prick when they insert needle which is insignificant. It takes max 10 mins to take the blood , then another 15 -20 mins to take rest and have juice so total max 30 mins. And any person who is not underweight and has Healthy Blood Count (Haemoglobin for  Women 11.5 to 16.5) with no recent health issues can donate blood. Donating blood is Saving lives the best gift you can give anyone … Just Read  'Giving is the Best communication'  .... So that's how I celebrated 2015  New Year Eve ... 

Tell me from your class how many parents came Esther ? I asked – Just You and Shiva’s dad , Nisha said when she told her mother , her mother replied that she is weak , how can she donate – Tell me mummy you are B+ve Dad is A+ve and I am AB +ve and Eze O  – how is that ? How many Types of Blood Group there ? can anybody’s blood be given to anybody …. .....   Ok OK we will discuss this later – btw there is some thing called ‘Bombay Blood’ also other that A, B, AB, and O will tell you later … Realized some time things need to wait :)  

“You’re somebody’s type”

Funny slogan that reminds you that no matter what blood type you have someone will need it.