Monday, April 13, 2009

I'm a Giver

I gave blood tonight at the Hoxworth Blood Center in Fairfield. I used to give it a bit more in college and after, but I typically don't up here as much. It seems like such a longer process and it freaks me out being there so long. But every once in a while, I'll suck up my fear and pump away. Today was one of those days.

Very friendly people but I swear the lady stabbed my arm with the needle. I was still in pain by the time I got home. Like, a considerable amount of pain. I ended up ripping the band-aid off and now it's just a slight throb. And I have a headache. But I can't take any ibprofen (blood thinner). Poop.

I did find out that I am O-negative, which means I can give to anybody, but I can only receive O-negative blood. So basically, if I'm ever in a tramatic accident, and the hospital doesn't have enough O-neg blood, I'm screwed.

I seem to be complaining a fair amount about something that I willingly gave. In all seriousness, the worst that will happen to me is that I might have a bruise tomorrow. But I'm potentially saving someone else's life. So was it worth it making this small sacrifice? Of course. The gain is much greater than the loss.

The same can be said for our spiritual lives. Is God asking you to do something that might seem uncomfortable or a little painful now, but in the end has a greater reward? Take the leap. You may lose a little blood, but you'll save a life.

2 comments:

John Arns said...

i'm B negative. rare ? i don't know.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for being a blood donor. Hoxworth Blood Center relies on the generosity of people like you to meet the needs of our 32 area hospitals.

Alecia Lipton
Hoxworth Blood Center