So, I did it
I went to the Blood Bank on Tuesday. I was 30 minutes early – I figured I was better off going in early than sitting outside stressing. And they took me right in 
I filled in a mountain of paperwork, had a fingerprick test to check my haemoglobin (135, much higher than the 120 minimum – not bad for a breastfeeding vegetarian!), and then I was whisked into the collection room. They stuck a piece of plumbers pipe in my arm, and in 6 minutes and 45 seconds, I was done.
So, I walked in a quivering wreck, and I walked out a champion.
I’m so proud of myself, it’s ridiculous.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I’m proud of you too, babe! Remember you’re doing it for me too (lived in the UK during mad cow outbreak…. blood not wanted here boo hoo) xoxox
February 4th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
yay you – I better get my ass into gear now
February 4th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Good for you! They won’t take mine either (had malaria, and lived in England).
February 5th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Well done Lara. Bet it’s top quality fluid, too.
February 5th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Well done. And thank you.
I am the result of my mother’s second pregnancy. She had a miscarriage with the first, (eptopic pregnancy) and required a lot of blood to stay with us. Without those donors, I would never have had a chance to exist. So, as per all donors, I thank you.
February 5th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Touch wood, I don’t think I’ve ever needed a transfusion, but it is so nice to know that my “balance” is in the black, should I ever need it. And in the mean time, I’m going to continue to give when I can, and hopefully save a few lives in the process.
So glad your mother is still with us – she brought us you, and endless vajumper jokes
Still spectacularly full of myself 48 hours later
February 6th, 2009 at 11:15 am
You rock – oh, and I’m trying to debug comment notifications, so this is a test.