Third try was not the charm ☹️

Well, I tried again. I went to the Kentucky Blood Center for the third time this month after being deferred twice for low iron. Hemoglobin on the first stick (right finger) was only 11.9, but she really had to squeeze to get it out, so it may have skewed the results. Left finger on second try was 14.2 so yay!!!!

Unfortunately, the stick didn't get the vein well, and even with adjustments from another phlebotomist, the little tiny bag wasn't filling up fast enough, so they had to abort, and it left a bruise. I can come back and donate after my hematoma has healed, they said.

Sigh. I did get another $20 gift card to Amazon, though. But I did want to donate. The stars are not aligning. I haven't had this much trouble in about 25 years.

So frustrating

So I checked the blood supply at the Kentucky Blood Center and O blood is in low supply (both + and -). I really am trying. I've been deferred twice this month for low iron. I got some vitamin C to take with my iron tablets (I have been taking those for years) because that's supposed to help the iron absorb, and I just went to the store and got some things they suggested to eat, including garbanzo beans and pumpkin seeds for our nightly salad, and generic V8 juice that includes beets. We'll see. I can donate three days from yesterday, but I'll wait a few more and try to build up some more. But for you all, who, like me, are type O and who normally donate (or would like to try), they really could use some. O blood can be given to any blood type. O- can be given to anyone [and is therefore the person is called a universal donor]. O+, like mine, can be given to any blood type which is also +. So it's really useful. Anyway, here's the graphic...

My last donation was my 9th gallon. I've been donating since I was in college, at age 17 (full disclosure, at that time you had to have permission from your parent--you can donate now at that age without it--and I had it, verbally, but I didn't have a note, and it's the first and only time in my life I forged my mother's signature on something. But let me reiterate: I was living on my own in a dorm, making many decisions on my own, and I did have her permission.)

I obviously haven't donated as much as I could have. I've gone years without donating. But I did donate when 9/11 happened, and I donated the day after COVID was announced in Kentucky, because I didn't think people would, and just started donating regularly after that. It's how I know I didn't get the virus during the actual pandemic, because they were testing for antibodies. I've had it once, only after it went endemic, and it was just like a bad flu and no worse, thankfully. So I went from about 7 gallons to 9 pretty quickly. I donate about every 2-3 months now. Which may be why my iron's low; I don't know. Anyway, I'm going to try again in a few days.

Happy Independence Day! Happy 250th Anniversary, America!

I'm not doing much. It's been really hot (heat index of 108°F) here, although it's a little better since some thunderstorms came through last night, but I don't think I'll go downtown and celebrate. I will babysit the dogs, two of which are terrified of fireworks.

I do love the Fourth. It used to be my favourite holiday. Over the years, that's sort of faded, I guess. I used to go downtown for the festival, but it stopped having many craft vendors, and the art vendors were too pricey. Maybe it's changed now. Hopefully. When I worked at the old Shriners, we could park at work, which was right across from the Idle Hour Country Club and Golf Course, which allowed us an excellent view from the front lawn to watch a wonderful fireworks show. To view downtown, I'd have to deal with parking and a lot of traffic and crowds. I just don't feel like doing that for 20 or 30 minutes of wow.

So my main way to celebrate is wearing my new Kentucky Blood Centre shirt, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country. I didn't actually earn it. I tried, though. I went yesterday, and they had to turn me away because my iron was too low. They went ahead and gave me the T-shirt and a coupon for a pint of Blue Bell ice cream anyway, which was very nice. I can try again in three days, and I'll probably come back Saturday to see if it'll be up by then. Considering I'm post-menopausal and take iron pills, I was a little surprised.

Anyway, here is me a year ago at work, in a silly headband I wore at the reception desk (thanks to recreation therapy). I enjoyed doing things like that because the families seemed to like little touches like that. Besides, it was fun to get a little silly sometimes. Then there's a picture I took this morning in my blood centre shirt.

So--

I don't give blood as often as I probably should, but it's about once or twice a year, and today I completed my fifth gallon (40 pints!), which took 31 years of giving. :) If you can, consider giving blood. Thanks to the Kentucky Blood Center for all their help.