| A Visit to the Vampire – OR how I found myself amidst bloodsuckers.
My friend had long been urging me to donate blood. I knew perfectly well that other friends had done so, but the idea somehow never seemed particularly attractive to my mind. I was always hesitant. Another friend even politely told me once (though altogether incorrectly) that one had to hold the satchel of blood during its collection!
I therefore firmly decided I would “NOT!” be visiting the vampire.
And so, of course, my friend was able to persuade me one day (I don’t know how, it still surprises me that I agreed,) to give blood with her, as she was again about to visit the Blood Bank. Driving nearer toward the glassed, contemporary exterior of the Red Cross Blood Service in Parramatta, I thought to myself that I could not, in any way, excuse myself at that point.
The Red Cross Blood Service in Parramatta |
Arriving in the underground parking, my friend remarked casually that it was to be her seventh time, and reassured me that I shouldn’t be worried at all. (I think I may have been shaking a little … I swear, it was the strong air-condition of the car, though!)
Having filled out several routine questions in the declaration, weighed myself, surrendered my finger to a light pricking test to draw a small sample of blood to test iron levels, I sat down with my friend in the waiting area. My number could have flashed itself at any moment on the screen – E 46.
In my imagination an image of that which was shortly to come, when I walked through the doors, unfolded itself – an enormous cave, entirely shrouded in darkness, with soft, rustling sounds in its depths …
E 46! My numbers already appeared on the screen and a nurse walked into the waiting area to escort me to the blood donor room.
Where was my imagined darkness? Bats? Suffocating air? … In front of my very eyes an unusually clean room had materialized, decorated with comfortable, blue chairs and filled with smiling faces. Some were reading, while most were engaged in cheerful conversation with their caretaker nurses.
All over! |
I stretched myself out on the chair, several questions were asked of me, and then the donation itself began. Oh, well of course – there was the needle! Realistically, though – a light prick could be felt for less than ten seconds and then the entire process took place entirely without pain – I even read an article from a Times magazine, handed to me.
A nurse called Cora took care of me. She confessed during our conversation that it is during winter that blood donors are most needed. At Christmas time, on the other hand, I was surprised to learn that so many people arrive at the Red Cross Blood Service, feeling the compulsion to donate through the goodwill of the season.
I discovered, too, that sixty percent of donors begin their visits to the Red Cross precisely thanks to the help and encouragement of someone else. And while 80 percent of the population will need to use donated blood sometime during their lives, only thirty percent of people will ever actually answer the call to give blood.
This is itself evidenced by the number of advertisements hung up around the rooms – the Red Cross is always urging new donors to step forward.
Ten minutes later, the needle was removed and I was asked how I felt, after which I rested for several minutes, and was then taken to the waiting room, where I ate (with great appetite) the hot sausage rolls and quiche given to me, and drank a delicious chocolate milkshake. For the journey home, I also received a packet of jellybeans, as well as a slice of fruitcake.
I survived my visit to the Vampire!
And would thoroughly encourage others, who may have, like me, been afraid of the terrors of Dracula, to re-assure themselves, be courageous, and become blood donors. It’s comforting to know that three lives could have been saved just thanks to one donation. (And, of course, the snacks following the visit tasted that much better and provided just a little more satisfaction!) | 
