To thank you for giving blood!

[justalittlety]

Just wanted to post a quick thread to thank any MNetters that give blood!

If it wasn't for people like you I would of died giving birth to my son, I would not get to see my children grow up! My little girl who is autistic would not get to hold my hand in the car (she is terrified of it and its the only way she will get in!) and I would never have experience my baby boys first smile today...

So THANK YOU! If you have ever given blood as small as it may seem to other people to me you are a life saver ❤️

I donated yesterday I didn't realise some people need to get an appointment to do it? I'm in Scotland and we just show up and get taken so maybe it depends where you go. I would also like to get a text saying where it went, maybe they'll start that in future.

@Kaypee28 - you sure can! I don't smoke now but did for years in my 20s and was never turned away. Your blood type is also the most sought after as it can be used for anyone so if you do feel up for it, you would be most welcomed!!

Here (London) you pretty much need an appointment. I've been turned away before turning up on spec. I mean, you can give it a go, but be prepared to not give.

@Kaypee28 you’re definitely okay with smoking, as one of the instructions you get after donating is how long you have to wait before having a cigarette.

I'm only on donation number 4 after overcoming a massive fear of needles in my early twenties, but I feel so proud to be able to do it every time I go. Next donation is in 3 weeks :-)

@SanFranBear @StrawberrySquash WOW I've always assumed you couldn't if you smoke. I'll be definitely going 👍🏻

@Kaypee28 If you're O Neg, then please do make an appointment to donate. If you send in an enquiry via www.blood.co.uk, and highlight that you're O Neg, you may be fast tracked. Smoking isn't a problem as far as I know, they just tell you not to for however long it is (I don't smoke, so not quite sure).

O neg donors are now being treated slightly differently, I've had a letter and email calling me a "Fast Responder" or something like that, because they are desperate for O Neg donors, so are doing what they can to fit us in, even creating additional appointments to squeeze us in if necessary.

If you're O Neg, then please do make an appointment to donate.

It might be possible to double-donate, where they take 2 donations worth of red blood cells in a single (longer) session. You get hooked up to a washing machine and have a warming wrap around your arm and a funny taste every so often in your mouth.

I’m so pleased you’re well.

I would love to give blood, I’m O- as well, but I’m not allowed to donate.

Instead I have been a donor for research and recently for uni lads illegal blood bank which will be used for research:

DGRossetti that was an option I wasn't able to follow up, due to location, shame really.

My DD had 36 blood and platelet transfusions while battling cancer. You donors literally saved her life

Thank you to the donors of 100 units of blood which saved my friend's life in childbirth a few years ago, so her four children are not motherless.

Also thanks to my mate who can't give blood himself but babysat so I could. I need to make an appt now that I'm off any meds which prohibit donating.

Such a lovely thread OP, I recently donated for the 5th time. I go as often as they allow me to book the next one

I can't anymore because they have stopped doing weekend appointments in my county and that's the only time I can go.

I'm up to 46 units of my finest A+ with my next planned for the end of February.

My mum had 5 units during surgery a few years ago which really brought home why I do it. She always taught me to share and seeing as I am lucky enough to be able to donate, I am happy to.

What a lovely thread, I give as often ask I can but my iron levels have been too low a few times.
I’m A+ with a Ro sub type, it’s pretty rare (I think it’s something like only 2% of donors have a Ro subtype) and is often used to treat people with sickle cell.

#43 here. My B- CMV- makes me a ‘hero for babies’. Once they’d told me that, I couldn’t not donate.

My son started donating as soon as he was 17, even when he moved away for Uni. That makes me very proud.

No thanks due to me, I'm little use to others. AB+.

Glad you are feeling better now!

I do try to give blood, nearly at 25 donations now. Like mummysherlock my blood is tagged as suitable for neonatal transfers and my own DD was born at 23 weeks and received multiple transfusions.

Blood Service is a genuinely sought after post for many

At my regular place, I’d say the opposite is true. Being the loan nurse on duty might be ok but all the phlebotomists quietly moan to me about the very long days and poor pay. And (again, where I go), the nurse is no longer allowed to take blood. I have atrocious veins and the phlebotomist has often asked the nurse to put in the cannula (to my great relief), but it’s not permitted anymore.

#43 here. My B- CMV- makes me a ‘hero for babies’. Once they’d told me that, I couldn’t not donate.

I was flagged as CMV-ve in the late 80s, so as far as I've been told all my blood went to the baby panel. Was really gutted to be told to stop .

That's really interesting, DickDewy.. perhaps my friend and hers are just odd as she still mentions being able to work there. That said, I do donate at a fixed site which I am guessing is different from those which are mobile - I can imagine a long day there is pretty punishing!

I'm O Negative and have given 60 donations. I started donating many years ago when the service came to my place of work and I'll carry on for as long as I'm able.

I have given 51 pints (but not all at once!).

I like the lie down, and at our place they have reinstated TUC cheese sandwich biscuits so it's always worth going.

Seriously, thank you for starting this thread, whilst I get a text saying where my blood has gone, it's really lovely to hear from the real people who benefit. I give because I can, and it's easy for me, I don't suffer at the time or after, but it's great to know I'm appreciated