This was what they needed last week. I’m not sure what all they need now, beyond platelets.
As I told y’all, I had been scheduled to give red cells last week at the Red Cross, but at the last minute they called and asked if I’d give platelets instead, because there was a dire need. I had never been asked to do this, in all the years I’ve given blood, so I figured it MUST be dire, and said OK.
So I did. And learned to my surprise that this is a way more time-consuming process than giving whole blood, or even double red cells. From the time you start pumping until you stop, it’s 90 minutes. Not counting the interview and blood test and other preliminaries.
Not only that, but while you have to wait 16 weeks to give double red cells again, you can give platelets every week.
And sure enough, they called me today, and I agreed to go in and donate tomorrow. I said, “You sure you don’t want whole blood, or double red?” They said no, this need is quite urgent — regular donors have been out sick, so they really need me to do this.
So I will, assuming I don’t come down with something in the next 24 hours.
But now, I’m thinking it would be good to share some of this warm, self-congratulatory glow that I get from being such a good guy. I’m thinking maybe some of y’all should give, too. Because it’s needed.
And because, frankly, I don’t think I can find this much time to do this every week. I need some backup. I don’t mean to complain, but it’s just a matter of practicality — this burden needs to be shared.
How about it, folks? I’ll be glad to help set you up…
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Nobody?
Sheesh.
I’m serious; I need some backup. I’m kinda stressing about this. I don’t feel like I can say no. But then, I can’t really do this every week. And yet they really need SOMEBODY to do it. I just spin in circles trying to figure this thing out…