Just found out where my most recent blood donation went

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I love getting that text. This time I also got an email with a link to Google maps so I could see the journey my blood went on. It went to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, via the processing plant in Colindale. If I hadn't already booked my next appointment this would have spurred me on to do it, so (for me, anyway) this is a really effective bit of marketing. Anyone else, or am I just a weirdo?

I'm sad that after many years of being able to donate, I had to stop after I was prescribed blood pressure tabs. I'm not a rare blood group but less common.
I should have thought we have the technology to strain out drugs by now?

I have given 18 pints and I wish I had known where they had gone. I am O- so anyone can receive my blood group, Unfortunately I can’t give any more as I am on aspirin.

We have been keeping things in the family:

By chance, my children donated a pint each on the same week and at the same hospital where their grandad needed 2pints of blood after heart surgery.

I regularly donate there but they were just visiting and thought they would try it.

(I know that their donations probably went elsewhere but the thought was comforting to my dad. )

I once had the text to tell me that my blood had been sent to the hospital where I was born, two miles from the donor centre. So it went two hours away to be processed and then came right back to where it started. I'm currently waiting on a text from a recent donation but I'm quite happy to wait - one time I got the text less than a week after I donated and that was a bit scary because I don't like to think of stocks being that low.

Thankyou so much. I have a rare neurological condition (for the last 12 years) and the best treatment is Intravenous immunoglobulins, which is a blood product, that I get once a month. It keeps me upright, able to care for my family and study part time (I hope to become a counsellor and help other people with my condition).

Without it I'd not just be housebound (at the moment I can leave the house with help and a wheelchair) but bedbound and deteriorating much more rapidly than I am now.

So thankyou to all donors. You're literally lifesavers!!

Love, love, love receiving these texts. My first donation after a long break went to Bart's in London where my dad received many pints in the ICU.

Today I became a plasma donor, feeling virtuous tonight and hoping to get a text still!

Oh I didn't know they did that, I'm giving blood for the first time on Thursday, have been refused up until now, but am now allowed :) less common blood type too, so have been wanting to donate for ages

This is lovely. What info do they give you? I had a blood transfusion many years ago that saved me and my baby at the time. I've always wondered if I could pass a thank you note to whoever donated their blood, like they do with organ donation.

Hi @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g just wanted to say that I can no longer give blood, since receiving life-saving transfusions myself. So thank you to you and all those who donate. Absolute heroes!!

I miss giving blood. I also miss the chance to lie down in middle of day and also the Penguin biscuit afterwards. I got dumped years ago because my blood group AB+ is fairly useless. Turns out it means I'm a taker not a giver!

Just the name of the hospital (I haven't had one with the Maps link yet).

It says:
Thank you so much for donating on [date]. Your donation has now been issued to [name] Hospital. Every donation counts.

I'm in Scotland so don't think we have the text. But I used to give blood a lot when I could. A lot of times I failed the thumb test. But I had 3 units of blood given to me in May so now I am not allowed anymore.

I'd love to be able to continue giving blood as I'm O positive.

And yes thank you to donaters.

Thank you so much @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g and everyone else who donates 🙏🏻
I can't any more after receiving some, but can't begin to tell you how grateful my family & I all are for that! ❤️

It's just a shame that most of it doesn't get used

No you've misunderstood, it 'could' be used on neonates. It 'could' also be used on an elderly person. Blood types don't only go to one demographic

I’m so grateful to all of you who give blood as I’m not able due to medical history. My dad donates and I’m always so proud of him

As someone who received donated blood and plasma a number of years ago when life threateningly ill - thank you to all those here who donate 😇🙏🏼

I was able to still give blood whilst taking prescribed blood pressure tablets 🤔

What a lovely thread to read 🤩
Echoing the thank yous to all those who donate 🤗🙏🏼🌟

Personally I am regularly grateful to the 2 people who donated their A- in spring 1994.

My newborn daughter was treated for kernicterus (as a result of severe jaundice caused by ABO incompatibility) with 2 full exchange transfusions at 24 & 36 hours old.
She had a line in and a line out of her belly button and they literally exchanged her blood for the donor blood. It saved her life (worst case scenario) and prevented permanent brain damage (best case scenario).

We will never not be thankful for this service and the people who donate.

I was strangely disappointed that mine only went as far as my local hospital, where I work. It basically followed me home!

You might be able to give platelets?

Not everyone is suitable (I’m not), but you could check, if you haven’t already.

🤭🤭🤭 this really made me chuckle!!

I've had donated blood after two major surgeries, including a top up post surgery when my iron levels were dangerously low.

It was quite surreal seeing the date of the donation on the bag, along with where it was processed, ironically just two miles away from where my parents live, despite my hospital being 90 miles away.

It would have been nice if they could have printed the first name (with their consent) on the bag. I would have liked to have known that it came from Mary or Dave. Silly really, but I would have found it comforting.

It did feel a bit strange the first time, knowing someone's blood cells were inside me, but I now think that I would be dead without it, so I carry a little part of them with me on all my adventures.

To be honest, I’m really not bothered who my blood is used on, I’m just happy to donate.

It was the donation assistant who told me about 4 donations ago, my blood is CMV free apparently so has a special sticker put onto the bag meaning it can be used for premature babies.
Ive been donating for years and didn’t know so I was delighted especially when she said that one bag can treat up to 6 wee ones, marvellous!!

What surprises me the most is the variety of folk in the donation centre.
Theres burley builders still in their work gear, older folk, young people, just every walk of life giving up their time. There will be a story & a reason behind why each and every one of them chooses to donate.

Human kindness in one big room. 🥰

I’ve had this text once but I’ve also not had a text. Are you meant to get them every time or does it mean your donation hasn’t been used?

I do like to know it’s little journey.