Well my lunar calendar birthday is on the 3rd day of Chinese New Year. Every year this time, I would go pray at the Guan Yin temple back in Jinjang. I did that this year, but something a little bit more. I went to donate blood at the National Blood Bank along Jalan Tun Razak. Although it was 2 days later, I learnt to know that it’s the intention that counts
Entering into the compound of the National Blood Bank, there was a row of parking lots on the left designated for blood donors. Wow it’s full! And I thought there were a lot of donors. But a quick glance at the reception area after parking my car shows that “somebody else” is parking at the designated area, not donors.

Now being the regular donor that I am, there was this form that I quickly filled up as I could already memorize each of the questions and the option available. Questions like “Did you have at least 5 hours of sleep yesterday night?”, “Did you have at least a light meal before coming to donate blood?” and “Are you having sexual activities included in the above mentioned categories of individuals?”, etc etc. Took this photo which details the processes donated blood will go through before being put to use, and how it is being put to use.

So I waited for 15 minutes for the medical officer to take my blood pressure stats (which is exceptionally healthy of course!) and off I am going to the blood donation ward.

Here are 2 boring voiceless videos of how it was being done

Now that was the first part. The initial injection was an anaesthetic shot and then the needle was used to puncture my vein to draw blood into the blood bag. For those of you who have not donated before, do not be intimidated by the size of that needle. Trust me, it was just a stinging sensation. Nothing more than that. So for those who have held off the determination to donate for the first time, just go ahead and do it!

However you need to fulfill the following criterias before registering yourself as blood donors. Take note of the pen-written one on top. Don’t think it would help also if a foreigner had stayed in Malaysia for more than a year if he/she is a contageous disease carrier. Makes me wonder if there are any other reason for setting such a rule.

10 years ago when I first started donating blood, influenced by my dad, they don’t do injections and puncturing the vein by hand. There was this gun-like device used to puncture the donor’s vein with a needle and then connect the tube and the bag to the needle to draw blood. They stopped using this after my first donation so forgive me if my description is not clear enough.

See the 3 separate test tubes? Well those are blood samples collected for the testing of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and other blood transfusion trasmitted diseases.

Then the blood bag is situated on a machine which shakes it evenly and throughout the whole blood donation process. This machine measures and keeps track of the mass of the donated blood and also the rate of blood drawn into the bag. Once a the 450ml bag is full, the machine will sound an alarm notifying the medical personnel to process the donor.

Now this second part is where the nurse clips the tube and pulls the needle out of my vein. Then I would have to apply pressure to the puncture point until it doesn’t bleed anymore.

So a full blood bag looks like this.

It’s not really a lot but once back home you will feel the effect of loosing blood. Easily tired, good appetite, sleepy, etc. But a good night’s sleep after a good meal will really bring you up to speed again if you are really healthy.

Of course, it didn’t affect me much. If not I wouldn’t have donated for the 20th time and plan to donate as long as I can

Then after donating, there is a cafeteria where donors are served these. A cup of hot milo or coffee of your choice, a packet of nasi lemak, an orange (Chinese New Year I guess) and some iron and vitamin B complex pills for your consumption.

Although the nasi lemak does not resemble the taste and attraction of any of the delicacies I have tasted, it is good enough for someone who has just donated half a litre of blood.

However, gulping down the cup of hot milo felt exceptionally nice as it felt I am really absorbing the warmth of the beverage. I always like this feel everytime after donating blood. According to my dad, around 20-30 years ago, donors were given a big bottle of Guinness Stout instead! Haha well I am not that old to know whether he’s shitting me or not but I think it makes sense. Guinness Stout is actually one of the most nutritious alcoholic beverage that I know of.

These are the iron and vitamin B complex vitamin supplements given to donors.

I seldom eat them though as I get the feeling that after consuming it, I will have super good appetite and will always tend to over eat and bloat myself.

I feel lucky, for being able to “share” my health with other individuals. From young, I have been taught that in Buddhism teachings, there are 2 types of charitable wealth, monetary wealth and physical health. Donating blood, just like donating organs, is donating your health to other incapable individuals, which brings even better karma to the donor than donating monetary wealth. As we all know, not anybody, can “donate” their health.

For instance my mum, almost 20 years ago she tried donating blood as well, 350cc of blood. However after that she fell sick for more than 3 months. Since then she could only be charitable with her monetary wealth.

So if you are a healthy individual, sign up now to be an even more charitable person that you are now. Don’t just stop at the fear of being pricked by needles or fear of pain or any other types of phobia at all. You may save a life with every bag of blood donated. Every bag of it counts.