Just call me a hero. I’m going to save three people’s lives today. Or six, if they are babies.
Because I signed up to donate blood.
I haven’t given blood since college. Back then, my roommate was a nursing major. She would convince all of the girls living in our apartment to donate. Together, we’d eat a high protein lunch and then we’d go to the college blood drive. And I never fainted. Good times. Good, good times.
After college, I couldn’t donate because I was always pregnant or nursing. Yeah, I know. My youngest is eight. But I’ve been chicken. Busy. I mean busy.
But I have to donate now, because my 17 year old has been giving blood during the blood drives at school. Once you turn 17 you are allowed to donate provided you have parental permission.
He was so excited the first time he gave blood. He came home saying, “I love giving blood! I just saved three people’s lives. Six, if they are babies!” And, “I got Oreos!”
The second time his blood donating experience wasn’t so great. The blood guy didn’t manage to hit a vein when he stuck the needle in my son’s arm, so hardly any blood came out. They tried three times to fix it, but they still didn’t get much blood. My son had to go back to class with a sore arm and zero lives saved.
But he got Oreos.
So, now it’s my turn. Let the bloodletting begin.
Which reminds me, we don’t have tickets to the premiere of Twilight.
In my defense, I didn’t know that my oldest daughter would suddenly become a fan of the book over the weekend. When it first came out, she was too young to read it. But now, what with all the hub-bub over the movie, she borrowed Twilight from our neighbor and finished it in three or four days. Now, she’s a quarter of the way into New Moon. And she really, really, really, really wants to go see the movie this weekend. But everything is sold out.
Which would make me the worst mother EVER.
Except that I’m going to save three lives today. Six, if they are babies.
There better be Oreos.
(Correction: My son really had Teddy Grahams and fish crackers, not Oreos; it took my daughter five days to read Twilight, not four; and we managed to get tickets for Twilight on Friday. Also, I donated blood successfully. Without fainting. Sort of. And I ate 6 Oreos.)
Oh heavens, I am totally not rushing to see the movie or help my family hurry and see it. We are practicing patience.
My son also started giving blood as soon as he could. He has type 1 diabetes and we were worried he wouldn’t be able to but he can and it’s been a great experience for him.
I am SO proud I raised my son to be a blood donor…. without my example.
Hahaha! Great post! I can’t give blood anymore since I lived in Europe during a certain time frame. I have my ticket to see Twilight, though!