Blood Blog - Step 2 - Registration

So it has been two month since I started this Blood Blog topic... bad, really bad. But I am proud to say that I am now a registered donor, and I have made my first appointment in this coming weekend.

My excuse for the 2 month gap would be the fact that I was out of the country for 3 weeks and I was sick for 2. But other than that I ran into a little snag during my registration. For some reason I just could not confirm my donor profile. I tried everything online but nothing worked. So I finally called the Canadian Blood Service (1-888-2-donate). I was helped by a very nice person and it turns out the reason is because, when I talked to the mobile clinic in 2001, they had set up a donor profile for me. However the address I provided back then does not match to my current address - since that was over 10 years ago and I have moved like 7 times in the mean time. He is unable to make any changes for me over the phone, but he suggested I set up an appointment (which is the reason I am going through all this anyway), and when I am in the clinic talk to a nurse who has the ability to change my donor profile. He also informed me that making appointments over the phone is much more efficient - by phone you can make an appointment for the next day, but online there is a 48 hours lag.

I am not sure if it's because I am a registered donor, but now I actually am seeing a lot of the effort Canadian Blood Services made to make people aware of their purpose (like pregnant ladies start to see pregnant ladies on the street?). There are advertisements on the street and on the bus, the announcement on the radio tells you the level of blood available is alarmingly low, and the surprising statistic that it takes on average 50 pints of blood to save a car accident victim's live (image source: blood.ca). All of it makes me realize how deangerous it is for us to wait any longer to take action.

So, only a handful of days left and I will have 1 pint (450 ml) of blood drained out of me. In the mean time I will stay healthy - exercises regularly, drink lots of fluid, eat healthy iron-rich food, no drinking (not a requirement but I think it helps), and go to bed early... oh, it is already past 1AM so I guess I'll start on that one tomorrow.

Anyway, the next time you see this topic on my blog would be after my trip to donate. I will report in and let you know how it goes. Hopefully I will inspire at least one of you to, not necessary donate blood even though it is a good idea, but make a difference in other people's lives.

Blood Blog - Step 1 - Information

As I have mentioned in my previous blog entry, I am preparing to donate blood as a form of support to my friends running the BMO Vancouver Marathon. I've always wanted to donate ever since 2001 when I found out I am a universal donor (I've know I am an O since I was a kid, but not sure about the neg part). There was a mobile blood donation clinic that visited UBC dormitory where I lived, and I sat in to talk to a nurse about what donating blood is about and she tested my blood type then. For other health reason I did not donate back then, and since then I did not have an incentive to start, till now.

This afternoon I was just in the Canadian Blood Services clinic located on Oak and 32nd, Vancouver. I did as much research on the Internet as I could but still feel like it would be nice to have a human to talk to before I really have a needle stick in me. So I took a bus to the clinic and had a short chat with a lady there. Basically, if you are in good health you can donate. So the steps are:

1. go online to register (did that this afternoon)
2. confirmation email to set up account (waiting for that)
3. set up an appointment (will do once I completed #2)
4. eat plenty of protein and iron rich food to get your hemoglobin up (checked)
5. make sure you have good meals and sleep before the donation, and have a snack an hour before so you have good level of blood sugar so you won't faint (need to remember that)
6. show up at the appointment
7. fill in questionnaire
8. quick talk over with nurse regarding recent health
9. lay down and wait for the needle
10. have a cookie after you are done

Simple 10 steps, and you could save a life.

Who knew "quit" can bring so much joy (not me)

quit

[kwit] verb, quit or quit·ted, quit·ting, adjective

–verb (used with object)

1.  to stop, cease, or discontinue: She quit what she was doing to help me paint the house.

2.  to depart from; leave (a place or person): They quit the city for the seashore every summer.

3.  to give up or resign; let go; relinquish: He quit his claim to the throne. She quit her job.

–verb (used without object)

8.  to cease from doing something; stop.

9.  to give up or resign one's job or position: He keeps threatening to quit.

10. to depart or leave.

(source: Dictionary.com)

My First... Squeeky Wheel Experience

I think this is my first time of receiving a bouquet of flowers, and it is because a co-worker had gave all the ladies in the office peonies but left the guys out. So I jokingly said "where are my flowers?" And the next day, beautiful flowers from her garden. Of course I got some "you are one of the girls now" jokes, but I can take it, it is worth it.

But I have to say I do feel really bad, because this is a "squeeky wheel experience". I have always hated the saying "the squeeky wheel gets the grease" with passion. This saying is encouraging people to complain and whine about their life, and expecting someone else to fix it for them. I've always been taught to be modest, hardworking, and maintain a positive attitude of life, so I always mutter less than nice words under my breath when I hear people complaining without attempting to create a solution.

None the less, the flowers are beautiful. I guess you ask, and you shall receive!

Cold

Waking up to see "feel like-14"... let me go back to bed!!



Know your children is watching your ABC

Before getting downtown today, on the skytrain station I saw a nice family waiting for the same train. Parents, kids, and the gramps. The father (I will skip the nationality here but you can make your own guess) just stick his already-been-chewed (ABC) gums on the fire hydrants in the station. I think the mother saw the dirty look I threw their way. Not that I hate what he did, but I think it is stupid to do this in front of the children.

And you know what? Of couse the little boy walks up to the fire hydrant and starting to take his own ABC out of his mouth. I was just in shock but apparantly the mother was in more when she yell out this terrifying "no!!"

So this small episode ended well: the father was shamed when the mother yell at him. He took his ABC and his kid's, wrapped them up, and took them to the grabage can, which is like 10 steps away.

I hope the dad learned something today. And I hope all you dads out there will learn from this. Not just gums, but swearing, jay-walking, or even just littering. Remember, they are watching.

It is as simple as A B C.


(image from worldental.org)

Avatar - A Mastepriece

Went to see Avatar this past Monday - what a great film!! This movie has everything! Great CG effects, georgeous backgrounds desighs, touching storyline, full character development, selfless lovers, culture conflict and unity, and of couse, tons of gunpowder!! You gotta go watch it. It is the first ever film that gave me goosebumps because I was so into the film. I hope you will enjoy as much as I did.