My blood demons

For some reason I am always scared when it comes to donating blood. I always had skinny physique, so I constantly feared about me collapsing when giving blood. In Kathmandu University there used to be frequent blood drives, but I never gave blood. I used to bring band aid from home during those events and tape it around inside of my elbow and sip ‘Frooti’ (a local mango drink, given to the volunteers donating blood), posing myself like I too donated blood. I know I was a great waste for a universal donor (my blood group was O positive).

I avoided all the blood drives somehow. Then one day my uncle was in dire need of blood for transfusion, which too in large amount. I assembled half dozen of my friends (including me), who had O positive blood group. I was the last one to lie down in bed to donate. One of my friends was yelling “hey, close that door or else he will run away”. Among all my friends I had the best BP level and I was the quickest to complete the donation too. I was very happy; my blood donation demons were finally gone.

After coming to US, I tried to donate blood but I was told that since I came from a different country I had to wait for few years before I become eligible for blood donation, which makes sense too. So, all my life I have given blood only one time. There are lots of people in desperate need of blood every day, and universal donors like me aren’t helping the cause. But now scientists have come up with a technique to convert blood group from one to another. Thank god, now more people will be suitable for donation when need arises. I also promise that when there is next blood drive in my office, I will be the first one to sign up.