• I am absolutely terrified of needles. That’s the main reason I wanted to donate; to help me get over this fear, at least a little. I saw the nurses checking people’s iron with the little pressurized needle that stabs your finger. Many of them were scared senseless. I sat down; the nurse poked my finger, took the blood sample and put it in this little centrifuge looking thing. “That wasn’t so bad,” I thought, “Why are they freaking out over this part?”

    My iron was good so the nurse sent me out to the Blood Donor bus they had parked in front of the school. I sat in the chair and waited for a nurse to start taking my blood. This is about the time that my calm gave out; I practically started hyperventilating in the chair. The nurse didn’t want to stick me; she was afraid I’d pass out, but I finally calmed down enough for her to put the needle in my arm. I was shaking the entire time but I got through it. It’s not the blood that scares me. It’s the thought of the needle skewering my flesh that creeps me out. I didn’t like how I had handled it but it still wasn’t as bad as my next brilliant move.

    After you donate blood you are supposed to eat something and drink plenty of liquids. I ate the little snack cake they gave me, drank One little cup of juice, and went straight to my next class.

    Later, during physics, we were doing a lab outside where we had to run and walk up the bleachers. I did the walking bit because the nurses said not to strain yourself. (The donors were also told to drink plenty of water, but being the idiot I am I didn't listen "I'll be fine," I thought, "its not going to kill me, I don't drink much water anyway." ) Well we were finishing up the lab and heading back in when I started to get dizzy. I kept walking and then I COULDN'T SEE! My eyes just glazed over; I saw nothing but white. A friend of mine saw me heading toward the fence and asked if I was okay. The genius I am, I said I was fine but I still couldn't see. He started guiding me toward the school and then MY LEGS STARTED GIVING OUT!! He called for the teacher and they held me up while we walked toward the building.

    They set me down in a cafeteria chair. (The school nurse wasn't there today, lucky me.) My friend stayed with me while the teacher went to get me some water. One of the blood drive nurses came over to check me out; I was really clammy and my fingers were freezing but my pulse wasn't racing so she said I was fine, just drink water. My eyes cleared up after the first sip. I was so embarrassed! First me freaking out in the donor chair and then nearly Collapsing because of shear stupidity. If my face hadn't have been so white I would have been blushing scarlet. My friend waited with me until I was well enough to walk with him back to class. It was really sweet of him.

    When we got back to the class room, some one started clapping. That didn't help my embarrassment. I must have glared at him because he stopped pretty quick. My friend told me I looked a lot better when we sat down. I asked him how bad it had been, he said that my face had been as white as a sheet and that my lips were near blue! I couldn't believe that my body had reacted that way, I was furious with myself; for the earlier freak out and the near collapse. I want to try to donate again, but next time I think I will listen to the nurses.