Platelet Collection (121/365)

“Blood is that fragile scarlet tree we carry within us.”
~Osbert Sitwell

TIME: 6:20 PM
PLACE:  Pheresis Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
SUBJECT: Double Needle Platelet Collection

After a week of iron supplements…I qualified!
(13.7 baby!)
So they hooked me up.
My whole blood went into the pheresis machine.
Some platelets were removed.
Then my blood was returned to me.
This was repeated for about 70 minutes.
I had a little bit of tingling from the anticoagulant that was used, so I was given some Tums for calcium.
Other than that, it went smoothly.
I believe I will donate again.

I Tried (114/365)

"Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is never try.”
Homer Simpson, The Simpsons, “Burns’ Heir”, Season 5, Episode 99, Apr 14, 1994 

TIME:  5:30 PM
PLACE:  St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  Center for Advanced Medicine Sign

I had an appointment to donate platelets after work today.
I drove to St. Louis.
Filled out the questionnaire.
They pricked my finger to get a hemoglobin level.
It wasn’t high enough!
WTH?
It was a 12.0 and the minimum to donate was a 12.5
That really upset me.

So, on the way home, I bought these.
I am re-scheduled me for next Friday.