It was a warm and sunny morning when @ruth-girl left the house. She got in her car and drove off. Where was she going? She didn't tell anyone. She wasn't driving to town, she took a different turn this time. Along the road there were no houses, only industrial facilities, trees and fields. Uphill, the road was going uphill and the fields were getting one too many.
And once the big building appeared on the top of the hill, she knew she had reached her destination. She pulled over, got out of the car and entered the big yard. She walked a few meters and there she found herself in front of this entrance.
- Good morning. I am here to be a donor.
- Sure! Have a seat and fill out this form.
In case my words sounded too cryptic, let me make it more clear for you:
Today I donated blood at the local public hospital.
The process was easy, the staff was very friendly and helpful and the pain? Negligible!
First, a little pinch to take a blood sample to test my haematocrit (which for a woman was relatively high).
Then, they took my blood pressure (all good so far).
And finally, the drilling!!
I sat comfortably on the big red chair, gave my arm to the nice lady who sneaked that blood sucking needle in me and there I stood watching with a broad smile on my face as my "life juice" was filling the plastic bag. Once we were done I could enjoy my free juice and crackers the kind nurse offered me.
The emotion of joy is beyond words! Just imagine that a few ml of yourself could help save someone's life. That something so personal, running inside you, will travel to make it into another person's body. It doesn't matter who will get to take it, be it an old man or old lady, a woman your age or younger, a sick person or a car accident victim, a patient with a chronic kidney disease or... or... or...
Regardless who gets it, it is for a good cause!
And just like this poster suggests:
"It's not blood you're giving away, it's 10 minutes of your time"
So, when are you visiting your nearest hospital?
You can have a look on a past post of mine on blood donation and a witty Greek campaign:
#bloodyuseless: Have You Considered Blood Donation?
*All images (with Kubot S600) by @ruth-girl - Steemit 2018
Thank you so much for your time!
Until my next post,
Steem on and keep smiling, people!
I needed a blood transfusion at one time and was very grateful for it.
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It can help save lives. My grandpa would have been dead decades ago if there hadn't been people to donate blood for a very important surgery he had to go through.
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I gave a sperm donation. Does it count as valuable?
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what can you say in such a post?....except from respect.....@trumpman you donate life itself....this is not just valuable...its priceless!!!!!
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This counts like the things mastercard can't buy... priceless
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Aww! That's a heart for humanity, and this is what posterity remembers.
"Living for others" is the joy of living.
Actually, I survived infancy partly because someone like you donated blood to me. 2pints. I have a very rare blood group (O -ve), it was really hard to come by.
And I'm still grateful for this.
There's a drop a goodness in everyone.
I salute your acts of goodness, Ruthie
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See? Stories like this should be heard more often in order to make more people care and volunteer to donate blood, especially people with rare blood groups. There are living examples among us that "giving supports living" and you are one of them!
Stay safe Sammy! :D
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Yeah; You're right Ruthie; "giving supports living". That's why we all should have heart for humanity.
Yours is an example of a heart for humanity
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I believe there are people who give out a lot more than that. The point is to give and help however you can and try to make others think about helping out too :)
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You're right Ruthie ✌✌
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Ruth αυτο που κανεις ειναι οντως αξιολογο...ηθελα πολυ και εγω να μπω στη διαδικασια...ειδικα για εμας τους αντρες ειναι και θεμα υγειας να αλλαζουμε το αιμα μας....ΟΜΩΣ....αυτο που περασε ενας πολυ στενος μου φιλος με απετρεψε....αυτο που θα σου πω δεν ειναι λογια αερα ή η ιστορια καποιου αλλου που ετυχε να ακουσω...ειναι αληθεια γιατι το ειδα με τα ματια μου...ο συγκεκριμενος φιλος μου ηταν αιμοδοτης τακτικος...δυστυχως κολλησε ηπατιτιδα σε μια αιμοδοσια του....δηλαδη του κολλησαν....η ιστορια συνεχιζεται με μεγαλη ταλαιπωρια χρονων...μηνυσεις ...δικαστηρια...τελικα δικαιωση....το ενα φαρμακο που του εδωσαν εκανε να φανταστεις 3.500 ευρω...ο ανθρωπος αυτος σε καμμια περιπτωση δε θα ειχε τη δυνατοτητα να πληρωσει ο ιδιος για κατι τετοιο...ευτυχως δικαιωθηκε στο δικαστηριο και στο τελος μετα απο περιπου 7 χρονια νικησε και την ηπατιτιδα...λογικα ηταν καποιος τυπος που δεχοταν θεραπεια....
....πραγματικα σου λεω θα το ηθελα πολυ....αλλα ακομα και οταν μου ζηταει καποιος να δωσω αιμα για καποιον δικο του το ψιλοσκεφτομαι με τα νοσοκομεια και τις μοναδες που εχουμε...
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Απαισιο πραγμα! Πως εγινε ομως αυτο; Σε οργανωμενη αιμοδοσια καποιου συλλογου ή σε νοσοκομειο;
Υπαρχουν ατυχιες που σε κανουν να λυπασαι (οπως στο παρελθον κοπελα της εγινε μεταγγιση με αιμα μολυσμενο απο AIDS κι ειχε βουίξει ο τοπος) και να φοβασαι. Σε τετοιες περιπτωσεις ειναι ρισκο πιστευω, γιατι η αναποδια δεν ξερεις ποτε μπορει να σου συμβει. Εμενα για παραδειγμα σημερα μου ειχαν καταχωρησει λαθος ομαδα αιματος στην καρτελα που ανοιξα στην πρωτη μου αιμοδοσια (σημερα ηταν η δευτερη μου φορα) και μου τηλεφωνησαν το μεσημερι να φυγω απο το σπιτι και να παω ξανα στο νοσοκομειο να με ξαναπερασουν απο τεστ (και δεν πιστευαν οτι ειχα παει εγω την πρωτη φορα, νομιζαν πως εστειλα αλλον ανθρωπο με τα δικα μου στοιχεια κι απεκλειαν το γεγονος να ειχε κανει η νοσοκομα τοτε αθος στην καρτελα μου- ελεος;)
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νομιζω σε νοσοκομειο....να ειδες τι τραβας και εσυ....σιχαμαρα εχουν καταντησει...
...και δε σε πιστευουν κιολας...να αρχισεις τα γαλλικα μεσα εκει και να αλλαξοπιστησουν και τα ντουβαρια....ημαρτον
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Ασε! Καλα το τι βλεπουν κι αυτοι εκει περα, γιατι μου ειπε η κυρια οτι το κανουν καποιοι συστηματικα, στελνουν αλλον στη θεση τους για να παιρνουν τα δικαιολογητικα για να δικαιουνται αδεια απο τη δουλεια. Ενταξει, οποιος το κανει αυτο ειναι σκετη ξεφτιλα!
Μεχρι και φωτογραφια απο εκεινη τη μερα της ειπα οτι μπορω να ψαξω να βρω στο κινητο της μητερας μου που καθομαι στην συγκεκριμενη πολυθρονα της συγκεκριμενης αιθουσας. Ειναι αυτοι ανευθυνοι και τα ακουμε εμεις μετα...
Τελος παντω, κανε το καλο και ριξτο στο γυαλο!
(Εχω κι ενα challenge που πρεπει να αρχισω καποια στιγμη, δεν το ξεχασα)
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I once tried to offer my blood but when they tested it .... I was rejected due to the high count of alcohol to blood ratio ....
I was very upset because whoever would have gotten my blood with have gotten drunk for free... How Awesome would that have been.....
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Are you sure you were in the right building? Perhaps you were too drunk to tell the difference between a blood donation clinic and the police alcohol blood-testing lab :P
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Lmao!!!
I have actually been to one of those after a concert :)
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Wait, I'll bring some pop corn and you can tell me all about it :P
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Bravo @ruth-girl !
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Ποτε θα οργανωσουμε μια steemit αιμοδοσια me το greek-trail; Kαλοκαιρακι ερχεται κι οι αναγκες πληθαινουν, σκεφτειτε το ;)
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Den einai asximi idea ! tha kanoume duo omades ? mia panw mia katw ??
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Να δουμε τι συμμετοχη θα εχουμε απο εδω και το κανονιζουμε! :)
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Awesome. :)
It shouldn't be overdone though. Just saying, because I know someone who was so very happy about the good they were doing, that they ended up doing it regularly, and it unbalanced their body a bit.... (they required a treatment, which they received, and everything was lovely once again).
Conclusion:
It's a wonderful thing, it's a great idea to post this and inspire others, and... note to you, don't go crazy with it either! :)
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I think that once a year (maybe twice) is enough :)
And it's also better to ask at the blood giving center when is it that they need it the most. For example, the nurse there told me that in our hospital there is a scarcity during Christmas and summer holidays. Knowing that, next time I'll make sure I plan my visit at around that time. They also notify you via sms whenever there is dire need for blood (that's only for registered donors).
I hope this post reaches out to more ears. After all it is lives we're talking about :)
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Beautiful and inspiring action. Resteemed.
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Thanks a lot @mira13! :D
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Very very nice gesture. It's difficult to find people who think about other people, and more difficult to find someone give out something priceless without having it in mind to get something in return... You're rare, @ruth-girl..
You're one of the most wonderful people I've met on steemit...
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Thank you @pearlumie! I just wish some people will feel the need to do the same thing after seeing this post. I didn't do it for the bravos and thumbs-up. It is just something that costs you nothing (unlike money donations), it doesn't take much time (unlike most types of volunteering) and it is something that aims at the most basic and important good, health!
Thank you for this compliment @pearlumie! (although I believe there are others even more wonderful and praiseworthy out there)
Have a great new week ahead! :D
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Thanks... I'm sure you enjoyed your weekend
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Awesome. I am signed up to be a bone marrow donor for 4 years now and I still have not been matched to anyone. So I wait. I do need to go donate blood once in a while though. Good job.
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This is also an excellent deed! Bravo to you! My mother has been signed up for almost two decades now, still no call...
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Many years ago I had an emergency operation and received 2 1/2 pints of blood (I know, 1/2?) from donors I would never know. My life depended on that blood and I was grateful. I was only a donor was and then was deemed to be unsuitable ( I believe I was too anemic). I applaud everyone who shows up and gives. It is the gift of life.
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It is a shame not more healthy adults consider blood donation. Not everyone is allowed to give blood (medication and tattoos cross a large number of possible donors out of the list). People who are capable and healthy should (in my humblest opinion) pay a visit to their nearest hospital at least once a year.
It is stories like yours and samminator's that should become our motivation! Thank you for sharing your experience with us @agmoore! :D
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:)
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Hats off to you! I also chuckled at your tag bloodyuseless...well done!!
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The tag was from a blood donation campaign! I laughed too when I first saw the TV spot.
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You have done such a beautiful thing.
I need to get over my fear of needles,
you have inspired me to do as you have
:-)
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Come on! Needles are not that bad as long as the hands holding them know what to do :)
I am sure you will like it if you try once!
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Just make sure you don’t look at the needle. Look away and think of something innocent and pure like kittens or 13-year-old Justin Bieber
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That's very kind of you. May God bless you for this act of kindness to humanity.
@eurogee of @euronation and @steemstem communities
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I just hope more people will feel the need to do so!
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That's such a nice thing to do. You don't get work from this, it gets to normal within 3 months max.
I also am a regular blood donor. That's really a great thing to do.
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As long as you are healthy and take good care of yourself, then there is nothing to worry about.
It is a great thing you're doing! :D
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Nice content dear....may the lord continue to uplift you from glory to glory for this wonderful act.
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And may more people volunteer to share some of their blood for those in need :)
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Great to know this, you went from home for an free journey and your destiny took you here and then the blood donation then when you came out you got the greatest essence of life and that is you gave your life's 10 minutes to unknown person. Keep up and thanks for sharing this post with us and wishing you an great day. Stay blessed. 🙂
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Stay blessed and have a great day @chireerocks! :)
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Thank you so much. 🙂
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Wow, such a Nobel deed. You are blessed for this.
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Let's hope some people will follow this example :)
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Yes, ma'am. One person at a time, humanity can be positively redefined
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That's right, you saved a life with that donation. Greeting
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And you can save one with yours if your health allows you to :)
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I have always wanted to donate blood, but I am very afraid.
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You shouldn't be, it doesn't hurt. I've given blood numerous times for tests and twice as a donor, I can't remember feeling any pain. :D
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hopefully what you give, get the blessing that receives it and I can not give anything yet
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Huge
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And very important!
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