Editor’s note: Karen Harris Tully is a writer who lives in Raymond and has agreed to keep a journal to share with Daily World readers during the odd and uncertain time we’re all navigating.
Dear Journal:
Today started with giving blood at the mobile blood drive at the Elks lodge. I don’t like giving blood (who does?) but I made myself an appointment at 10:30 on the Red Cross website. It was a beautiful morning and I stood in the sun, lining up with everyone else — 6 feet apart. They started an hour late, a technical problem, but everyone was chill about it. In a small town, I knew half the people in line anyway. I talked with Linda about how much we miss choir. She sings soprano, while I am more of an alto, and she’s given two gallons now! Brenda the school nurse was there, and Toni from the bank, and others I knew or recognized. Several people were turned away because they weren’t taking walk-ins. Folks came from as far as Elma and Olympia because lots of blood drives have been cancelled. This one was fully booked.
I got checked in, which took some time. Next time I’ll set up RapidPass, where you answer the safety questions at home so you’re ready to go. And then I waited for the newly sanitized bed to dry. The blood drive was not in the mobile bus this time, but in the Elks lodge with a lot more space between donors, most of whom were wearing cloth masks like me. All the medical staff were wearing masks and gloves, of course.
The donation itself went great, a lot better than usual. The phlebotomist got my vein on the first try with no trouble. My veins are small and they like to roll, or so I’m told. I hate it when they have to move the needle around in my arm in what I call the clock method, and I end up with a big bruise. That’s the worst. So why do it then, why go back? Because it’s something I can do. And years ago, someone did it for me.
Not to go into too much detail, but 10 years ago I had two ectopic pregnancies. Both ruptured and I had to have emergency surgery each time, and I lost a lot of blood. Now, I’m healthy and it’s time to give it back. I’m not cut out to be a nurse, a doctor, or an EMT, but giving blood, that I can handle. It’s one way I can help.
Song for today: Give a Little Bit — Supertramp
