I’d had a call from the blood donation service, asking when I could next donate. It’s great to feel needed, and if only 7% of the population are A Rhesus negative and I’ve got gallons (well, one anyway) of the stuff pumping through my veins, it’s no hardship to give a pint, is it? I’d hoped to be able to fit in a run between seeing clients and giving blood, but somehow time leached away from me. So on this sunny, crisp afternoon, instead of running across the Heath and dipping in the icy pond, I was lying on a bed in Fitzrovia, central London, surrounded by strangers, as my life blood flowed into a plastic bag.
It might sound grisly if you’ve never done it, but I have to confess that I actually love giving blood. Not in a Twilight, vampiro-erotic, kind of way (Robert Patterson just isn’t my type.) Before every donation you are required to fill in a form that asks impertinent questions such as: Since your last donation have you had sex with anyone who has ever injected drugs? or Since your last donation have you been given drugs or money for sex? Crikey, what a dull little life I must lead. Oddly I'm never asked 'Have you ever been bitten on the neck by a man with overdeveloped canines?' Though that would be a 'No', too.
What I love about giving blood is the sense of doing something completely altruistic for someone I don’t know, and being surrounded by other people who are all doing the same. The NHS staff are patient and welcoming, and no–one ever complains if they are kept waiting. There is a wonderful ‘all in it together’, Blitz spirit about the experience, especially afterwards, drinking tea and eating custard creams together. And then we all slip away feeling secretly heroic, having done something really rather marvellous.
Just after leaving the donation centre, I spotted a little church set back from the road and, channelling my mother who could never pass a church without taking a look, nipped inside.
It was exquisite, every surface covered with tiles, carvings and inlaid marble. I sat in the pews absorbing the unexpected peace and beauty. Behind a pillar a man rocked gently, possibly asleep, and a young man in a builder’s hi-viz tabard came in taking off his hat as he entered, lit a candle and sat, head bowed, in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary. It was impossible to imagine that this oasis of tranquillity was just a stone’s throw from Oxford Circus – where shoppers were rummaging for bargains through the rails of Primark and Top Shop.
As we sat there in companionable silence, the chilly air fragrant with incense, an unseen organist began to practice The Glory of the Lord from The Messiah, playing the phrases over and over again, pausing and repeating, the organ pipes wheezing. Strangely, hearing all the concentration that went into playing Handel’s glorious music was more intimate and moving than if it had been played all the way through, note perfect.
Sometimes it’s the stopping and starting and wheezing and not getting it quite right that make us really appreciate when everything goes beautifully.
I too am one of that 7% and would love to give blood, but they don't want mine. I come from a family of blood donors, but I don't have enough haemoglobin and I'm epileptic, so they turned me down
That's such a shame. I've got a couple of friends who complain when I bang on about how great it is, as they can't give blood either. You can carry an organ donor card though (which is even more life-changing.)
The best bit about giving blood USED to be the Tuc biscuits (creamy salty cheesy muck sandwiched between two layers of crispy more salty crackery stuff, nectar!) but now we have to make do with sugary ginger nuts or bourbons or custard creams, if we want a salt hit it's got to be crisps. Bring back the Tuc biscuits I say! And say it I do, 3 or 4 times a year to the poor vampires that prod and prick us!
I'm O neg so they don't ring me up. Hubby's A, not sure if pos or neg, he has a bright red keyring (mine's manky burgundy, I want a purple one!).
Son turned 17 at the beginning of November, he's got an appointment booked in January when hubby and I go! Start 'em young! (It will be interesting to see if he's O or A.)
I agree with you though, there is a certain strange pleasure that comes from 'doing something amazing'!
Tuc Sandwich Crackers! I'd forgotten all about them and know I really want some. I googled Tuc to try and find the original jingle - something about 'Snap with a whisper and melt like a something on your tongue.' I got distracted and found this ad from Pakistan instead.
What a lovely blog Londongirl! You couldn't have summed up the experience of giving blood better. Sadly, they no longer want mine since I had a blood transfusion a couple of years ago, but I will be eternally grateful to the donor/s who gave me those units of their lifeblood xxx
Isn't it sad that once you've received blood you can't give it any more? That is exactly the point at which people who have never donated before realise why it is such a valuable thing to do.
What a beautiful post. I give blood too, O neg, universal donor so they love me , such an easy thing to do for others. And I like the tea and biscuits too!
What a beautiful post. I give blood too, O neg, universal donor so they love me , such an easy thing to do for others. And I like the tea and biscuits too!
It means they can give our blood to anyone without them reacting. AB is universal acceptor (or something like that) as they can have blood of any type.
What a wonderful observation about the organ-player (oooh, matron!) - so true, Londongirl. We want everything to be 'spot-on', but that can only happen because of all the time's when it isn't!
Fabulous fabulous fabulous post! I echo your comments about giving blood. What a fab serendipitous happening, finding that little chapel (my own darling late mum guides me towards little chapels wherever I go in the world!) and being there when the music started, same thing happened to me in Wells cathedral. Gobsmacking x
Forgot to say, the session I go to is in a working mens club, and despite my frequent requests they just refuse to open the bar for us to have half a Guinness to replenish our iron levels after donating
Brilliant blog, interesting and so easy to read; but my real reason for commenting is to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to you and all the other unselfish people who give blood, thank you, thank you, thank you - without your kind donations I would not be here today.
In October I had a 7 hour emergency operation involving three surgeons and then spent 3 days in intensive care, I am seventy one. When I came round the three surgeons came and visited me and it seemed as if they couldn't stop smiling so obviously I asked why, and they asked what I knew about the operation and I replied 'nothing'.
The senior surgeon went all serious and said that in emergency ops like mine (Ruptured abdominal Aorta Aneurism) half of the people die in the Ambulance; and of the half that make it 50% of those die during the operation and 25% of those that do get through the op lose one or both legs - yes they were smiling and 'Oh my God' doesn't quite cover it.
I made a full recovery plus a trophy (the neatest little scar) starting from under neath my breast bone down to two inches above the important bits
The surgeon said that it was 4am when they got me onto the operating table and then he said gravely 'WE NEEDED TO FIND BLOOD AND DONORS QUICKLY' it was only then that I really realised the incredible service that all you and all blood donors provide - the odds on me coming through the op were slight but without 'donors' they were none existent.
I had to have a transfusion plus I believe another 5 pints if that sounds right - thats a lot of biscuits!
Thank you BEADS AND FAMILY, DERYN 61, JRWTC AND ALL DONORS EVERYWHERE.
I shall be getting back to the Gym next week to regain some muscle mass (I lost over a stone) and I hope to start the C25K with my thirteen year old granddaughter in Jan/Feb so watch out!
My body is in reasonably good shape because I have followed a real (raw) food diet in the past and I have taken a lot of ribbing because of it - but it was that and you lovely blood donors that got me through the op.
I am not religious but I am sure your Gods light candles to you,
sounds like your name suits you perfectly! So glad to hear you had such top treatment and have recovered so well. I read something about raw diet recently and thought I'd have a look into it, are there any fora/sites you recommend?
Good luck with your recovery and your quality training time with your grand daughter!
I will try not to bore because anything to do with nutrition is my passion; there are many sites, fora, and books but they do tend to contradict each other and can be mine field.
I try to follow a 'hunter-gatherer' diet but it is not always easy, these days we eat for taste and not for health/survival, often we eat because because it is time to eat and not because we are hungry.
I know of no reliable studies undertaken to offer comparisons of nutrients before and after cooking real food.
I listen to my body and I only know that when I am eating raw food (actually there is no such thing as 'raw food' surely, there is 'food' and there is 'cooked food') I feel fantastic and I am either humming, whistling or singing within five minutes of waking up and I feel clean inside and out - not so with cooked food.
Good luck with your raw/real food diet even if it is only a third of your daily intake that will make an improvement and the taste will surprise you.
Doctor's take the Hippocratic Oath when entering their profession but one of the most famous sayings of Hippocrates is 'let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food' - Hmmmm?
londongirl, what a lovely blog! And what a lovely person
A good reminder, we were talking at home about donating just the other day, as I know that this time of the year is particularly challenging. I feel terrible that I have never done it before. I was very needle phobic when I was younger, but recently I always seemed to be travelling on business when the blood bus came to our office. No excuse really, I will crack on and do it. Athough as I received blood when I was 10 years old, I dont know if that affects my ability to give, but I can ask.
I'm not at all religious, but can totally appreciate the peace and beauty of churches. I was lucky enough to get to see the chapel under the house of commons recently, I could have sat there for hours.
I just looked it up and they don't accept donors who had a blood transfusion after 1980 because of the very slight risk of CJD (related to Mad Cow Disease). They don't want to repeat what happened in some countries when people got HIV from blood donations. Sad, but wise to err on the side of caution. (Of course, they might have thought of that before they started feeding cattle with diseased meat.)
I should be fine, I was pre-1980 I have registered and will figure out when there is one near me that does not follow a boozy night out in December, otherwise I will have to do the local one on 28th Dec or even early January
Once again a lovely blog. I used to give blood but since having a transfusion they no longer want mine, but my husband and daughter donate, it is a marvelous thing all blood donors do, thank you all so much.
I was thinking about blood donation a few days ago, thinking that our next session must be due as it usually comes up in December. No card yet from the centre, but it'll probably come this week. I remember worrying about how long I'd need to leave before doing my next run of C25K way back in the summer. This time that won't be a concern as I'm currently 'signed-off' running due to an injury.
I, too, love giving blood and have been sad the times when I've been turned away (low iron levels, or having travelled through the parts of countries with known malaria risk (mountain trekking holidays) or having had vaccinations for such travel.)
Talking about Blood Donation biscuits - we get Tunnocks Teacakes! Yummy! I really like these, but never buy them as I know I'd eat the whole packet, so they're a treat for me at the blood donation sessions!
The Blood Donation Serviice it in a bit of a mess at the moment according to the man I spoke to. They've started an appointment system but that makes it harder to donate than simply dropping in.
Tunnocks teacakes are great but Tunnocks wafers are bliss (even though the chocolate's not as good as Cadburys.)
We've had appointments for a few years now, it makes a big change that we can drop in and get seen fairly soon, I remember waiting 2 hours once and being late to collect my daughter from school, had to ring one of the other mothers and get her to grab her.
Our sessions they have bookings every 5 minutes, two bookings and one walk in, so even if you've not got an appointment you can still donate. And if you do just walk in off the street they're able to give you an approximate time, so you can go away and come back and don't have to sit there waiting and hoping. Though that said they have turned people away before now as they've been out of time (I think we need them to come more frequently).
You are absolutely right that there need to be more centres or the blood donation units need to come around more often. I used to donate near my home but that location is no longer used, which seems odd as it was a medical school. We are always encouraged to book our next appointment when we have just donated and if you don't you may not be able to get one for ages. When I was phoned on Thursday the man I spoke to couldn't find an appointment for at least five months in my area, which is why I ended up going to the permanent centre in central London. The man who took my blood there was equally frustrated that they can't accommodate everyone who wants to donate, even though they always need more blood. I wonder what the solution is.
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, such an easy thing to do for others. And I like the tea and biscuits too!
