Blood

On Donating Blood:  Our church has a blood drive every year and I have never gone.  Wes always goes, but I don't. 

Here is the reason: I donated blood once fourteen years ago.  I am not afraid of needles or blood.  I love biology stuff . . . . I thought donating blood would be cool.  So I donated.  I fainted right before my bag of blood was full.  They had to throw it all away.  I so bummed to see my lovely blood go in the trash.  Sigh.  What a waste! 

Well, Wes and I celebrated our thirteenth anniversary this month.  The church was having it's annual blood drive and Wes was recruited to donate.  They asked me to go to, and I said, "Sure! It seems a fitting thing to do on a thirteenth anniversary!"

So we went, Wes with gusto and I with trepidation.  I drank plenty of water and ate well before going.  We donated blood on tables in the cultural hall of the church.  I did it!  I made it through the bag and felt great!  It was a lovely success and I was quite pleased with myself. 

We had the kids with us because we were leaving from there to go on a family outing.  So the kids and I went to the table for cookies and juice while we waited for Wes to finish up.  I sat down and then wham--I fainted.  A lady grabbed me so I didn't flop onto the floor. 

Passing out is a funny sensation.  I felt all tingly and then all warm, and then dizzy and then I was having the most fascinating dream.  I really didn't want to wake up.  But I did after about forty seconds.
Waking up after a faint is scary and disorienting.  I couldn't remember where I was or why I was there or what had happened to the lovely dream I was enjoying.  Then they were trying to get me to talk and answer questions and I wanted to speak but my mouth wouldn't work.  It felt like everything was in slow motion!

I ended up being very sick, almost throwing up twice, and not being able to get up for forty minutes.  It was awful.  I was sick, weak and tired for the rest of the day. 

But the best part of the story is this: the kids said, "Mom you fainted and then you were snoring!  Yeah, you were snoring soooo loud we could hear you out in the hallway!  Heee-hee-heee" 

Oh dear!  What a funny way to celebrate an anniversary!