Thursday, August 30, 2007

Bloodletting

Our baby cousin was born prematurely and had to be kept in the NICU. The first of two times he required plasma transfusion, my aunt requested me to be a donor. They had promptly obtained a bag of frozen plasma from the Philippine National Red Cross already but PNRC requires 3 replacements for every bag availed.

I made sure to sleep early the night before and fasted until the procedure was done (although I’m not sure if it was really necessary).

At the local Red Cross office, the logbook shows that I was the first donor for the day. Foremost, my physical data (weight, height, and BP) were recorded. Then I was asked to fill-up a checklist with questions such as history of diseases and sexual activities *very interesting*. The MedTech even attempted to go over the entire form repeating the questions to me. Fortunately, she realized that I’m not in the influence of alcohol or drugs to not understand what I inscribed on the form.

She then prepared a blue solution which I later learned was for blood-typing although she had asked me this thrice already.

All this time I thought that “cc” is the unit concerned when talking about phlebotomy hence I was shocked when Lira (the RMT) stuck to my membership card and donor’s record, identical labels that read: “Blood Type O+.450mL”. “That’s almost a bottle of coke, isn’t it”, I exclaimed. Lira assured me that many had survived that.

Finally, I was led to a room which I’m not certain if it’s appropriate to call an “extraction room” just as I’m uncertain if the chair I was asked to lie on is a chair or a bed. Lira took a picture of me before the procedure (which is another surprising thing although I learned that this is an SOP; maybe at least for them). She tied a rubber band on my arm, searched for pulse, rubbed alcohol, pricked, and released the band. Dark red liquid flowed through the tube and started filling the bag placed on a lower chair. I suppose that the reason for placing the bag at a lower surface other than facilitating the flow of blood was to avoid hemaphobics from seeing it. I was given a soft rubber ball to squeeze lightly. I filled the bag in more or less 10 minutes and Lira checked with a spring balance that I gave the necessary volume.

As soon the needle was removed, Lira asked if I felt dizzy; I didn’t. After 10 minutes, she gave me the go to stand up and leave if I want to but again inquired if I felt dizzy. She said that it was good that I had conditioned myself for donating blood because I may feel dizzy if I haven’t. Thankfully, I reached home safely although a little pale.


POSTSCRIPT
Last August 25, we lost the baby when he was a week shy of being a month old. His tender body and fragile condition surrendered to the intensive treatments he underwent. Despite the sadness, we’re somehow happy that our little angel is finally home.