By AMY SHANKLAND
Sandwiched
With all the trouble in the world right now, I’ve been feeling like I really need to help others. Normally I give back through volunteering at Agape up in Cicero and donations here and there to organizations.
Agape has been closed for their winter break. We also just made both tuition payments for the spring semester for our sons. Our bank account has the proverbial tumbleweeds blowing through it.
I realized last week that it had been two months since I’d donated blood. With the shortage of it in our state, I decided that would be something I could do to help the community. So I rolled up my sleeve last Tuesday. (And got the cool socks pictured with today’s column!)
Photo provided by Amy Shankland
You have to understand, giving blood absolutely terrifies me every time – it has for years. Many people feel the same way for various reasons. We fear needles, the possibility of fainting, the sight of the blood, etc. I can check off pretty much every box.
When I told my father how I felt when I was in college after trying to donate for the first time, he looked me square in the eyes during lunch that day. He said, “Amesworth, I want you to get over that fear. It’s a good way to help people.”
Dad’s been gone for over 28 years now, but his words have helped me find the courage to keep donating as much as I can. I’ve learned a few tricks about how to make my visits better.
I have just one vein that people have luck with, so I always ask for the most experienced phlebotomist. If I have to be stuck more than once, the bloodmobile folks will be scooping me up off the floor! By doing this, most of the time it’s “one and done” and I have no bruising and little pain.
I always make sure I’m dressed in cool, comfortable clothing, that I’ve had plenty to eat and drink, and that my feet are propped up. This keeps away any light-headed episodes.
And there’s no way I’ll ever look at what they’re doing – from the little pricks on my fingers to check my iron to the actual needle that draws the blood, my head is always turned to the side. I look out the window or at anything else but my finger or arm! If I took one glance it would be “game over.”
Finally, I always look up to the heavens and ask, “Dad, help me through this today. I’m here because of you.” He always comes through for me.
Thanks for letting me drift away from my sandwich generation topics for today to focus on this important subject. If you are healthy and able, please consider donating blood today. (You can borrow one or more of my tips!) Versiti, our county’s blood center, makes it easy with Bloodmobile drives all throughout the county. Or visit their Fishers or Carmel location.