So our appointments were at 6 p.m. on April 3rd at the Polaris Evening Program. I didn't know until I looked up the location that it was at Woodstock High School, which is where I graduated from. Apparently the Polaris Evening Program is a fancy name for their night school program now. Jeff and I met at the school and I almost thought he wanted to drive separately so that he could bail out on me last minute, but he actually showed up! It was really weird walking through the halls of the school. I had been to the auditorium for the girls dance recitals, but you just come in the front door for that. We had to actually enter the back of the school, walk all the way through to the other side to the cafeteria. Brings back some memories, but at the same time it looked totally different to me. Thinking back now, I can't remember if the floors were the same or not or if they even changed the paint colors.
So we get to the cafeteria, sign in and are handed the information book to review. Pretty much it tells you what to expect, has a whole list of things that would make you ineligible to donate, etc. They call me back to a little booth first, take my ID and information and then do the lovely finger prick to test your iron levels. They want it to be at least 12.1 and mine came back at 11.2. The lady asks if my fingers are cold, which my hands and feet are always cold, and then asks if I want a second finger prick to double check it. In my mind I am kind of thinking, "hell no, that hurts worse than the needle!", but I sucked it up and just said "sure"...with a whole lot of enthusiasm (sarcasm). She has me rub my hands together to warm them up, then pricks the other middle finger. This time it came back at 12.9, so I am good to go! They take my blood pressure and then take me back to a chair to start. As I am getting in the chair, Jeff comes out from his little cubicle and tells me that he can't donate because his blood pressure was too high. It was 200/120...and yes, I have had a very stern yet concerned conversation with him about it and he will be making a doctor's appointment, even if I have to hog-tie and drag him in! Apparently they checked his blood pressure before anything else, so he didn't even so much as get a finger prick...I was so mad! The finger prick was the first thing they did to me and checking blood pressure was dead last! AND HE GOT A T-SHIRT...FOR WHAT?!?! I wanted to get one of those little finger prick things and give it to him myself just for the heck of it haha.
As a different lady started my tubes she proceeds to start telling me her marriage woes. I learned she has a husband 14 years older than her, she married at 19, made a lot of compromises at first, had a clarity moment when she turned 30 last year, is tired of her husband not being interested in her wants and goals in life, she doesn't like her sister-in-law that her husband always sides with and basically she is just done with him and ready to move on...a lot to learn about someone in 5 minutes that you have never spoken a word with before! 15 minutes later I was a pint or so lighter and actually felt pretty good after. My last go-round wound up with me passed out on the Red Cross bus they set up in front of Walmart. This time I made sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day and ate a banana before I went! I sat for a few, drank an orange juice, got my t-shirt (that I actually earned) and we went home. I think I will try to make this something I do at least every six months or so, it is for a great cause!
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