Sunday, December 23, 2007

Mission Accomplished

I set a goal this year of donating blood seven times. This is a little tricky to do since you have to wait eight weeks between each blood donation. Doing the math, 52 weeks divided by 8 weeks' deferral period each time, seems to indicate six donations per year. But if you get started early in the year and donate again each time as soon as you are eligible to, you can make it to seven donations in a calendar year.

Seven finger-pricks to test your blood's iron content, and seven needle inserts to take the blood, how fun. Actually, it's not bad. And you feel so smug about your goodness afterwards.

In 2007, I first donated blood on January 2d. I donated every eight weeks thereafter, culminating in my seventh donation earlier this month. I am proud of this effort.

For my next trick, I intend to donate blood 100 times in my lifetime. I am three quarters of the way there, currently working on my nine gallon pin (units of blood donated).

9 comments:

Rainmaker said...

Good for you on helping out! And congrats on reaching your goal!

Susan said...

WOW! I haven't donated blood in ages... now I am motivated to do so!

jeanne said...

you = saint.

Sunshine said...

Blessed be.. the folks who can donate blood... and just do it.
And in your case: do it and do it and do it and do it and....
Well, blessed be.
We did when we could.
Blessed be... And peace for your week, and good runs for your new year.

DawnB said...

Thank you Peter for doing what most wont. You are are a true blessing. My 19 year old have already done it more times than I have and I am very proud of him.

Sunshine said...

Thanks for your delightful comment!

David said...

I hang my head. I hope they are not out of A+ when and if I need it.

Christie said...

I wish I could give blood. I'm anemic. I am getting better with the supplement I'm taking now but I doubt I'll ever be able to give blood.

Rich said...

Congratulations to you Peter. I don't know how you keep up your running while giving blood too. Amazing!

Happy holidays to you.