CAA Blood Drive Challenge

I once signed up to be a member of the Blood Bank because they were giving out free t-shirts. This is a true story. That was my only reasoning behind doing this. Well come to find out being a member involves a lot more than just getting a t-shirt. I now have to donate once a year, pay a fee, or find someone to do it for me. Who is going to willingly donate blood FOR ME? And I am a starving college student. There is no way I am paying close to $50 when I could just donate for free. So that is the route I have always taken. And I must say... It has been an unsuccessful one the past 4 times I have donated.

But because of my wonderful roommate Chelsea, why not donate for a 5th time? She informs me that she signed me up for the CAA Blood Drive Challenge. This came as a minor shock to me. Let me recap just what happened last semester when I participated in this challenge.

 I was sitting there in the chair... squeezing my stress ball every 10-15 seconds as my pint of blood filled up. All of the sudden I start feeling nauseous so I politely inform the lady. Then BAM! I was gone. I regained consciousness and had ice packs down my shirt, my uggs were off my feet, and I was completely reclined. So the fact that I was about to sit in the chair AGAIN made me a tad queasy.

So this year...

We go through all of the questions together and then onto the physical. Chelsea and I had the same appointment times so she was right next to me going through the same process. It is finally my turn to go find my chair where I will be drained of my blood for the next 45 minutes. Iodine covers my arm when I glance up to see Chelsea standing there with a pouty look on her face...

"I can't donate," she says.
"Excuse me?" I say back.

Turns out you can't give blood when on antibiotics which Chelsea had been on for the last week. Awesome. So the person who signs me up for this can't even give blood. Go figure.

I am stuck with the needle and passed with flying colors. No thats right. I said passed. Not passed out. Not even the slightest bit of nausea or lightheadedness. Must have been the Snickers, lifesaver, fruit bar, and kit kat I consumed moments before. All in all my blood donation today became a success story. The one success story I have under my belt.

Donating blood is free and you become a hero. Having the power to save someone's life. Plus you get awesome snacks in the end. :)

Read more on how important it is to donate at, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/50439/donating_blood_important_factual_information.html?cat=5

And find out where the next blood drive is in Delmarva so you have the chance to be someone's hero.
http://www.delmarvablood.org/