My First Blood Donation Experience

Yesterday marked the first time I donated blood to someone, not just a random person but my friend who unfortunately has been facing some health challenges. I was at a friend's house when I got a call about the urgent demand for blood transfusion to help in the treatment of my friend at the hospital where he was admitted. I haven't done that before so I needed to convince my heart to take that step, I found out that it will only prove that I do care for my friend and humanity above just the surface to do this sacrifice for him.

I arrived the hospital and immediately went into the laboratory for check up and my eligibility to donate the blood. We were two in number that went in for the check up so they'll have more options should incase one is not fit, maybe the other will. It happened today the second person donated blood of recent and wouldn't be appropriate for him to donate again until after four month at least. That made me the right choice for the donation until when they carried out blood group test and found out that I'm B+ while they needed blood type O+ or A+ because my friend (the patient) is A+.

We was seating at the counter and thinking of what to do next then some people came in as well to donate blood for their sick relative. The sick person was B+ and the person donating the blood was O+. That gave us the chance to donate to them and they in return donate to us, that was what happened.

I got the opportunity to check my genotype as well because I've been procrastinating it for a very long time now. I was pleased to hear the genotype result, I am compatible to marry any genotype.

The next was blood donation. I sat on the chair with several thoughts galavanting through my mind, I hope nothing will happen to me? If I don't donate the blood for my friend's sake it'll only mean that I never liked him and have been pretending to be his friend. What is at the end something more terrible happens to him if he doesn't get that blood donation on time. The proof of love is what we are willing to sacrifice. I brace myself up and quickly the big syringe passed through the big vein in my hand.

The technician in the lab gave me some type of plastic material to keep applying pressure on it, that will help in the fast flow of the blood into the blood bag.

I was asked few questions if I had eaten, until after the donation I understood the real essence of why the question was asked!

I began to feel hungry but was still very much strong as if nothing happened. Twas later on I began to feel some sensations from within, more like feverish, dizziness and tiredness. I rush to get some red meats with malt, I didn't realise how hungry I was until I was eating the stuffs I bought. I drank plenty water, ate cooked eggs with some Irish potatoes. Later I began to feel better but still weak that I couldn't even walk home I had to get on a bike.

At the end, I'm happy to see my friend's reaction when he saw me and was told that I donated the blood he needed, "you know that feeling when someone isn't expecting you to go that extreme for them then boom, you surprised them anyway" that was the scenario.

I'm still feeling some weakness and symptoms of low blood pressure but I'm taking care of myself. Maybe it's because it's my first time of donating my blood out but it's fine and I'm cool with it. I'll appreciate your suggestions on what else you think can help me revive more quickly..
Thank you for reading through..