Not to mention doing Business or Selling. Even to give only, I need to struggle.
But today, my struggle was not in vain. The Struggle for Blood Donation!
Every three months, I always come to contribute. But more often, it is rejected than accepted. The reason is the blood pressure is low. Even though my blood pressure is usually low, 100/70. Sometimes the HB is less; the minimum HB for Blood is 12.5 - 17; I've only had 10.
"HB is related to diet; eat more foods that contain fiber, vegetables, and protein," advised the doctor on duty.
What is never lessened is weight!
That's why I prepare myself beforehand whenever want to donate. I need firm intention. Among others, sleep at least 5 hours before the date, and pay attention to food intake—breakfast minimum 3 hours in advance. According to the latest 2015 Minister of Health Regulation related to Blood Transfusion, fasting prior to at least 3 hours of donation is to maintain good blood quality, not cloudy.
Even though I had just eaten bread at 8 am, the doctor still advised me to wait until 11 am for the blood to be drawn because carbohydrates from bread can also make blood cloudy.
"If all the requirements have been met, but the blood doesn't meet the standards, how is that, Doc?" I asked.
"It's thrown away, bu. Meanwhile, your blood is meant to be given to people, not thrown away," he explained.
A donor next to me started having his blood pressure measured. Then the doctor saw the man's face; there were red spots. "You've had smallpox, haven't you?" he asked.
The man nodded, grinning.
"How long?".
"About a week."
Immediately the doctor opened the tensiometer around his arm, which didn't measure up yet—immediately rejected.
Moreover, smallpox is caused by a virus. If you have dengue fever, you have to wait a minimum of 3 months to be able to donate. Typhoid has to wait six months to be able to donate.
"Why did it take so long, Doc?' I asked again. It's hard just to donate, I thought.
"Because his own body still needs blood. He's sick, and he needs to recover his stamina first. So it's for the health of the donor himself."
Ooh I see
️
I lay next to a man who came with his friend. His friend took a photo while he was having his blood transferred, his right hand stretched out in front of him showing a coiled blood tube, his left hand offering the number two, and... Kimchiiie... his head was lifted while showing a smile.
I smiled too seeing the moment. It's funny. It reminded me of my cellphone, last night it fell under the bed, and I forgot to take it. I hope no friends contact me. I was often scolded for being difficult to reach. Often miss calls. How come you pick up the call when the phone it's hard to pick up? I have to move the bed. The bed is heavy, and sometimes I have to wait for Mbak to come to pick them up.
Ah...
Maybe next time, besides preparing my body health before donating, I also have to prepare my performance and fully charged gadgets so it can be captured and posted on social media; who knows, how many people will be inspired? Join donors. So that's considered to be Syiar*) too.
Shame or not...?
It feels like a shame to post such a thing on social media; I must think a thousand times. Therefore my achievement in getting likes is miserable. The maximum number of likes I've ever got Is 5. Once, I was surprised to get more than 100 likes in an hour. It turns out that all Bright's friends liked it since I tagged the post to her.
Finally, after about a quarter minute, my mind was wandering everywhere, the officer cut the blood tube, clamped the part that was still attached to my arm, and pressed the line while pushing the blood that was still in into the blood bag, then tied it. The remaining blood from the tube stuck to my arm was put into a small vial for a sample. Removed the needle from the vein in my left hand and then attached the tonoplast to the needle mark.
I am grateful, in the end, that my struggle was not in vain; God permitted me. Today I managed to donate 350 cc. I looked at my donor book; it turned out to be the twentieth one. I only succeeded in donating my blood twice a year.
When I was in a coma after giving birth, my body was drained of blood. It was so difficult to get blood that matched my blood type; I imagined my father's face panicked, worried, and even angry at the Red Cross officers because of bureaucratic problems. I know how many donors can't pay off my debt to people who have voluntarily donated blood for me during my crisis. This is all I can do... donate my blood to those in need.
Blood for life.
***
*Syiar, kind of advertise